Of the total, 35,000 of them reached Greece through the Express Visa Scheme, according to the figures from the Greek Citizen Protection Ministry, EU Helpers reports.

Mentioning the notable increase in the number of Turkish tourists, Greek locals and businesses said they have had a positive impact in the Hellenic Republic.

“Visa at the Door” Scheme Brings 35,000 Tourist From Türkiye

On April 1, 2024, authorities in Greece introduced the visa-express scheme, known as the visa-express scheme, which soon after its launching sparked interest among tourists from Türkiye.

This scheme permits tourists from Türkiye to obtain visas upon arrival at ten Greek islands.

Quality of services, as well as affordability compared to domestic options, are among the reasons that lead Turkish tourists to choose Greece instead of domestic options, as Turkish tourists have told Kathimerini.

Greek local businesses have described as a lifeline for local businesses the influx of Turkish tourists.

A sector representative in Lesbos told Kathimerini that 75 per cent of tourists reaching Lesbos come from Türkiye and the majority of them are wealthy.

A restaurant owner in Alexandroupoli, Andreas Andreoglu, said that even though there is no visa at-the-door application in this city, a significant increase in the number of Turkish tourists has been noted.

Greece’s Express Visa Scheme Causing Decrease in Turkish Local Tourism

While the Express Visa Scheme of Greece is boosting Greece’s economy, a decline has been noted in Turkish hotels’ arrivals.

The situation has sparked concerns among Turkish tourism representatives, with some of them even calling for the cancellation of the visa-free scheme.

Due to the surge in the number of Turkish visitors to the Greek Islands, long lines were registered in July, at Lesvos points of entry.