Greece has decided to extend a visa-on-arrival scheme for Turkish tourists planning to visit 12 Aegean islands for up to a week.
The scheme, initially signed in December 2023, offers fast-track visas for Turkish tourists and their families to visit certain Greek islands without needing full access to the EU’s passport-free travel zone.
The extension will take effect for an additional year, beginning April 1 and lasting until April 2026.
With approval from the European Commission, the program will now include two more islands, Patmos and Samothrace, in addition to the original 10 islands.
The commission praised the scheme’s success over the past year, highlighting its positive impact on strengthening ties between Greece and Türkiye.
Since its launch in 2024, more than 100,000 Turkish visitors have been granted visas for islands like Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Lesvos, Chios, Leros, Symi, Lemnos, Kalymnos and Kastelorizo.
The move was agreed upon at the meeting between Greek Prime Minster Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Athens in December 2023.
Previously, Turkish visitors faced a lengthy visa process via the Greek Consulate in Izmir.
With regular entry procedures and fast-track visas, 1.15 million passengers traveled to the Greek islands from the ports on Turkey’s Aegean coast last year, according to data from the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry.
The number of people traveling to the Greek islands in 2024 increased by 93 percent compared to the previous year, spurred by the visa-on-arrival scheme.
Greece benefits from Turkish tourists
The impact of the initiative on Greece’s tourism sector has been immediate and substantial. Local businesses—particularly those in hospitality, retail, and food services—are already seeing the benefits.
With Turkish visitors eager to discover the islands’ treasures, demand for accommodation, dining, and local goods has surged, providing a much-needed economic boost to these island communities.
Beyond the financial advantages, the visa-on-arrival policy has helped strengthen ties between Greece and Turkey, fostering a deeper cultural exchange. As Turkish tourists explore Greek history and culture, they also bring their own traditions, enriching the experience for everyone.
This newfound ease of travel is helping to bridge the gap between the two countries, creating opportunities for greater collaboration in tourism and other sectors.
Greece set a new record in tourism revenues for 2024, collecting 21.7 billion euros ($22.6 billion), up from 20.6 billion euros ($21.5 billion) in 2023, according to data released by The Bank of Greece.
The increase by 5.3 percent or 1.1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) compared to last year, has been long expected by both Greek government officials and tourism businesses given the steady rise of tourist arrivals throughout 2024.
After a two-year pause during the pandemic when international travel was affected and tourism came to a standstill, Greece has been seeing a steady increase both in the number of tourist arrivals and tourism revenues.