Measuring Tourist Pressure in EU Regions
According to figures released by Eurostat and reported by The Independent, the South Aegean and Ionian Islands—both in Greece—recorded the highest tourist density among the EU's smaller regions in 2024. The two Greek archipelagos topped a ten-region ranking of the most visitor-heavy places in the European Union. For travelers mapping out summer plans, the list offers a good hint of where crowds are likely to be thickest.
The South Aegean—home to Santorini and Rhodes—logged 41.5 million overnight stays. With a local population of roughly 326,000 to 328,000, that translates to about 127 nights per resident. The Ionian Islands, including Corfu and Zakynthos, also posted strong numbers: more than 20.5 million overnight stays against a population of around 200,000, or 103 nights per inhabitant.
The EU Regions With the Highest Visitor Concentrations
The ranking covers small EU regions with populations between 150,000 and 800,000. The rest of the top ten includes:
- South Tyrol (Italy)
- Adriatic Croatia
- Balearic Islands (Spain)
- Crete (Greece)
- Tyrol (Austria)
- Algarve (Portugal)
- Canary Islands (Spain)
- Salzburg (Austria)
Overtourism has become a pressing concern in several European countries, among them Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, and Austria. The latest figures highlight how popular these destinations have become, and they underscore the need for better visitor management to avoid the downsides of overcrowding.
“The upsurge in tourist traffic across these regions points to the vital role of sustainability in travel.” — The Independent
Local authorities and tourism boards will need to craft strategies that protect natural assets and cultural heritage while keeping local economies afloat. Given the pressures of overtourism, striking a balance between financial gains and environmental impact is essential for the long-term health of these destinations.
As the demand for travel continues to rise, understanding the dynamics of tourism becomes increasingly important. Notably, while Greece's regions dominate in visitor density, other countries are also experiencing significant growth. For instance, Saudi Arabia has recently topped the OECD's tourism growth rankings, highlighting a shift in global travel trends. To explore how these changes are shaping the tourism landscape, read more about the latest developments in tourism rankings.