The White Tower in Thessaloniki.
Greek destinations Heraklion and Thessaloniki are among the biggest gainers in travel interest for Easter 2025, according to new data released by travel intelligence provider ForwardKeys.
The analysis, based on European flight searches for the Easter travel period (April 7–21), reveals that both cities are seeing sharp rises in market share compared to last year.
Heraklion on Crete recorded a 0.5 percentage point increase – the third highest among all destinations – while Thessaloniki followed closely with a 0.4 percentage point gain.
Their strong performance places them in the top five emerging destinations in Europe for the holiday break.
Palma de Mallorca leads the ranking with the most notable increase in travel intent, gaining 0.7 percentage points in market share following a 79 percent year-on-year surge in flight searches.
A key driver behind the trend is the later Easter date, which this year falls in mid-April, making warmer southern destinations more appealing.
Searches for “sun & beach” locations have increased by 59 percent compared to the equivalent period in 2024, as Europeans seek springtime escapes with mild Mediterranean weather before the summer peak.
Heraklion, Crete.
Heraklion and Thessaloniki’s gains reflect broader momentum for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Other destinations in the region, such as Istanbul and Antalya, also saw notable increases in travel intent, while traditional city break hotspots like Amsterdam, London, and Paris experienced declines in their share of intra-European travel searches.
Overall, European flight searches for the Easter period are up 36 percent year-on-year, pointing to growing confidence among travelers and a shift in seasonal behavior.
“Surging interest in beach and Mediterranean destinations reflects broader seasonal and behavioral changes,” said Luis Millan, Head of Research at ForwardKeys.
“With Easter falling later this year, the commercial importance of travel intelligence becomes even more critical for destinations preparing for summer.”
Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
Source link
