Santorini's tourism sector faces a sharp downturn following over 20,000 minor earthquakes earlier this year, causing a significant drop in air arrivals and bookings. However, a €1.6 million recovery campaign backed by authorities aims to restore visitor confidence and secure the island’s economic future ahead of the crucial summer season.
Recent seismic activity in Santorini has raised concerns about the island's tourism industry, which has historically relied on millions of visitors each summer. In the face of increasing earthquake tremors earlier this year, tourist bookings have reportedly decreased, with some measures already in place to address this downturn.
Throughout January and February 2025, a series of more than 20,000 minor earthquakes rattled Santorini, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. Although fears have triggered a retreat from the island, officials, including Yannis Paraschis, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, indicate that flights to the island have decreased by approximately 26% compared to the previous year, with summer bookings showing a decline of around 7 to 8%. Paraschis anticipates a loss in tourism revenue of 10 to 15% during the peak travel season.
In April 2025, air arrivals dropped by an alarming 34% compared to the same month last year. This has raised alarm for hoteliers, given that Santorini typically attracts over 3 million tourists, contributing to nearly 10% of Greece's overall tourism economy. Antonis Pagoni, president of the Santorini hoteliers, remarked that such reductions could significantly impact local revenue, highlighting the island's vulnerability despite its iconic status within the Greek tourism landscape.
Despite the challenges posed by the seismic events, there are signs of potential recovery. As fears surrounding the earthquakes have begun to subside, tourism authorities have initiated marketing campaigns to reassure both local and international visitors. A €600,000 promotional initiative backed by the South Aegean Region and the Greek National Tourism Organization is aimed at restoring confidence in the island’s safety. Furthermore, no major structural damage has been reported, and cruise ship arrivals have resumed, with the first major vessel bringing approximately 1,700 tourists back to Santorini at the end of March.
Efforts are also underway to bolster safety and attract visitors through innovative strategies. The island is investing in infrastructure upgrades and preventive measures designed to enhance the overall visitor experience while addressing safety concerns. This includes inspections of accommodation facilities and the retrofitting of buildings. The local government is looking to replicate successful recovery stories, such as Rhodes’ resurgence after wildfires in 2023, by launching an international tourism campaign valued at €1 million.
Authorities remain vigilant about safety, advocating familiarity with earthquake procedures and ongoing collaboration with travel agencies to ensure a smooth return for visitors. While the situation remains fluid, the resilience of Santorini's tourism industry is being tested, and the focus is on adapting and innovating to recover from these recent disruptions. As the peak summer season approaches, hopes for a rebound remain, but the full impact of the earthquakes is still unfolding, keeping stakeholders on high alert.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on June 11, 2025, and discusses the impact of recent seismic activity on Santorini's tourism. The report cites data from April 2025, indicating a decline in tourist arrivals. However, similar reports from March 2025 also highlighted concerns about tourism following the earthquakes. For instance, a report from March 23, 2025, stated that Greece declared Santorini safe for visitors after the seismic activity subsided. ([greekreporter.com](https://greekreporter.com/2025/03/23/santorini-tourism-reopens-greece-declares-island-safe-for-visitors/?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that while the narrative is current, the concerns about tourism decline have been ongoing since earlier in the year. Additionally, the report mentions that the state of emergency was declared in February 2025, which aligns with earlier reports from that period. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-build-escape-port-santorini-quakes-continue-says-minister-2025-02-17/?utm_source=openai)) Therefore, while the narrative provides updated figures, the underlying concerns have been present for several months. The report does not appear to be recycled content but offers a fresh perspective on the situation.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Santorini hoteliers expressing concerns about the decline in tourist arrivals. These quotes are consistent with sentiments expressed in earlier reports from March 2025, where hoteliers anticipated a slower year due to the earthquakes. ([ekathimerini.com](https://www.ekathimerini.com/nytimes/1266183/as-unexplained-quakes-ease-tourist-island-insists-its-reopen-for-business/?utm_source=openai)) However, the specific wording of the quotes in the current narrative does not match exactly with those in the earlier reports, indicating that they may be paraphrased or newly obtained. This suggests that the quotes are not directly reused but are consistent with previously reported sentiments.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK-based news outlet known for its journalistic standards. The report cites data from the Santorini Hoteliers Association and includes statements from Greek authorities, which are verifiable and credible. The inclusion of specific data points and direct quotes from industry professionals adds to the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with information from other reputable sources. For example, a report from April 2025 noted a 34% drop in air arrivals to Santorini compared to the previous year, indicating a significant decline in tourism. ([tovima.com](https://www.tovima.com/finance/santorini-air-arrivals-drop-34-in-april-challenges-for-cruise-sector-remain-after-earthquakes/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative also mentions the implementation of a €600,000 promotional campaign to boost tourism, which is consistent with efforts reported in March 2025 to reassure visitors of the island's safety. ([tovima.com](https://www.tovima.com/tourism/santorini-aims-for-rhodes-style-recovery-after-seismic-activity/?utm_source=openai)) The tone and language used are appropriate for the topic and region, and the structure of the report focuses on relevant details without excessive or off-topic information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative provides a current and credible account of the impact of recent seismic activity on Santorini's tourism industry. It is based on reliable sources, includes verifiable data, and presents plausible claims. While similar concerns have been reported since earlier in the year, the narrative offers a fresh perspective with updated figures and direct quotes from industry professionals. Therefore, it passes the fact-check with high confidence.
