On-Arrival Visas Propel Anticipated 50% Surge in Turkish Tourists to Greek Islands

Greece might experience more Turkish tourists this year and that’s all thanks to a visa policy change.

A resolution by Greek authorities to eliminate seven-day visas for Turkish tourists visiting the Greek archipelago could potentially result in an envisaged upswing of around 50 percent in Turkish visitors to the islands in the upcoming summer.

This decision, aimed at ameliorating strained relations persisting for numerous years between the two nations, primarily exacerbated by recent migrant concerns, is reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

The move to institute a one-year visa-upon-arrival initiative for Turkish travelers to the Greek islands is anticipated to yield substantial favorable repercussions for the tourism sectors and economies of both nations.

In this context, Özgü Alnıtemiz, Director of Karavan Tourism, emphasized that the Greek islands already serve as favored destinations for Turkish tourists, making noteworthy contributions to the Greek economy through various avenues such as daily excursions and cruise journeys.

"As tourism professionals, we are happy, but we also need to be cautious. We cannot ignore Germany’s contribution to the Greek economy. Germany has a weight in Schengen. We will wait and see," commented Özgü Alnıtemiz, Director of Karavan Tourism.

Alnıtemiz underscored that the visa charges, which can vary from €120 to €200 when processed via intermediary channels, pose a financial burden for Turkish tourists engaging in international travel. Furthermore, he pointed out that entry with an on-arrival visa at the Greek islands is expected to yield substantial cost savings for visitors.

The affordability of round-trip tickets between Turkish cities along the Aegean coast and the Greek islands, ranging from €30 to €80, likely stands as a pivotal factor influencing travel choices for tourists.

Notably, Dimitris Kairides, Greece's Minister of Immigration, recently disclosed that the visa will be granted immediately upon arrival and remain valid for a maximum duration of seven days with a single entry.

The Greek islands covered under this novel arrangement include Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastelorizo. Previously, Turkish citizens were obligated to seek Schengen visas to visit Greece for tourism purposes, encompassing these islands.

Furthermore, based on the Schengen Visa Statistics for 2022, Turkish citizens registered the highest volume of Schengen visa applications at the Schengen consulates in Türkiye, reaching a total of 778,409. Among these applications, 164,829 were lodged at the Greek consulate, positioning Greece as the second country with the highest count of Schengen visa applications from Turkish citizens.

Source: schengenvisainfo.com