Tourism in Mykonos, Greece’s most iconic tourist destinations, continues to show signs of fatigue, with the island’s airport reporting a decline in passenger traffic.
According to data from Fraport Greece, overall passenger numbers at its 14 airports reached 3.37 million in October, marking a 9.2% increase compared to the 3.09 million travelers in October of the previous year.
For the first ten months of 2024, passenger traffic rose to 34.35 million, an increase of 2 million travelers compared to the same period in 2023, resulting in a year-over-year growth of 6.2%.
However, Mykonos airport bucked this positive trend, experiencing a continued downturn. In October, passenger traffic on the island dropped by 9.9% compared to the same month last year, which dragged down the ten-month figures to a 2.8% decline year-on-year.
Notably, international traffic at Mykonos airport saw a steep decline of 20.2% in October, while domestic traffic registered a modest increase of 4.3%, insufficient to offset the losses in international arrivals.
In contrast, Santorini’s airport maintained its growth trajectory, with a 4.7% increase in passenger numbers in October compared to last year, and a 3.6% rise in traffic over the ten-month period.
Among Greece’s other major tourist destinations, Rhodes led the way with over 792,000 passengers in October, followed by Chania, on Crete, with more than 408,000, and the Ionian island of Corfu with over 397,000 passengers.
All three airports reported double-digit growth, with Rhodes in particular recording a 15.3% surge, surpassing the second-largest urban center of the country in passenger traffic at the end of the summer season.
The island of Skiathos, in the Sporades, was a standout performer, more than doubling its international arrivals in October, attracting nearly 14,000 travelers. Overall, Skiathos airport achieved the highest growth rate among the 14 airports managed by Fraport Greece, recording a remarkable increase of 64.7%.
