Turkish visitors support tourism in Greek islands despite earthquake fears

Thousands of Turkish tourists have traveled to the Greek islands during the nine-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, with Lesbos emerging as a top destination despite recent concerns over seismic activity in the Aegean.

Local ferry companies in Ayvalik, located on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, reported a surge in bookings. The increase was partly driven by earlier earthquakes near Santorini, which caused many European tourists to cancel their travel plans. In contrast, Turkish visitors continued to travel.

Ali Jale, the owner of a ferry company operating between Ayvalik and Lesbos, said, “With the holiday extended to nine days, our reservations increased significantly.” He noted that around 900 Turkish travelers crossed to Lesbos on the day before the holiday.

On the same day, long lines formed at the Ayvalik border gate, and parking areas were packed. Many travelers said proximity was a key factor. “I chose Lesbos because it’s close to Ayvalik. I’m here to spend time with my sister and explore,” said Turkish tourist Gun Calislar. Actor Bulent Sakrak, who also visited the island, said he planned to stay 2 days to rest.

Holiday traffic from Türkiye pushes tourism numbers up in Lesbos

Greek news outlets iefimerida reported that 2,000 Turkish tourists crossed to Lesbos in a single day from Izmir and Canakkale.

Aris Lazaris, head of the Tourism Department of the Lesbos Chamber of Commerce, said, “Turkish visitors are crucial to our local economy. Last year, 122,000 Turkish tourists came to our island. This year, we expect that number to increase.”

Over the full holiday period, 4,000 Turkish tourists are expected to visit Lesbos. Hotels on the island reached occupancy rates close to 90%. Ferry companies were among the businesses that benefited most. “We had strong demand, though not as overwhelming as last year,” said the owner of the ferry company, Jale.

Locals, tourism officials, and businesses welcomed the economic boost. “Ayvalik to Lesbos is an easy route,” said tourist Gun Calislar. “We’re enjoying the trip and plan to spend time shopping and walking around.” Similar comments came from other travelers who cited convenience and relaxation as reasons for their visit.

Cruise ships skip risky stops in Greece, head for Türkiye

The impact of the Santorini quakes extended beyond ferry routes. Cruise companies also changed course. Instead of docking in Santorini or Israeli ports, many cruise ships rerouted to Türkiye.

This shift led to a noticeable rise in cruise passenger numbers.

According to official figures, 32,686 cruise tourists arrived in Türkiye in January 2025, compared to 19,986 in the same month last year. In February, arrivals jumped from 4,895 to 29,826. This sixfold increase signaled a strong start to the season.

Oguz Ozkardes from the Izmir Chamber of Commerce said the rise was linked to international instability. “Many tourists were redirected to our region because of conflicts or seismic risks in their original destinations,” he said.

Kusadasi gains momentum as Santorini cautiously reopens

Kusadasi saw one of the largest increases in cruise arrivals. “Last year, we hosted around 500 ships. This year we’re expecting 600,” said Bulent Ilbahar, president of the Kusadasi Tourism Association. “Shops reopened early, and the town came to life.”

Ilbahar explained that tourists removed Israeli ports from their lists because of the war and chose Türkiye instead. He added that the recent earthquakes near Santorini also played a role in boosting Türkiye’s cruise appeal.

Meanwhile, Santorini welcomed its first cruise ship of the season on March 24 after being off the map due to safety concerns. Although no major damage was reported, Greek authorities had implemented emergency measures, shut schools, and paused tourism activity in February.

The Celestyal Discovery arrived with 1,700 mostly American tourists. “It’s exciting to know that the island’s open again,” said Deborah Terry, a passenger.

Local business owners expressed hope for recovery, but plans are still underway to build an evacuation port in case of future earthquakes.