Türkiye-Greece Visa-on-Arrival Boosts Tourism Surge in Rhodes

Visa-on-Arrival Scheme Sparks Turkish Tourism Surge in Rhodes and Beyond

Rhodes has seen a dramatic rise in Turkish tourist arrivals since the introduction of Greece’s fast-track visa-on-arrival program. In the first four months of 2025, more than 72,000 Turkish nationals traveled to and from Rhodes, with 60,000 crossings made via ferry routes between Marmaris and Rhodes, according to local authorities.

Popular Destinations for Turkish Tourists in Rhodes

As reported by Türkiye Today, top attractions for Turkish visitors include:

• Old Town (Eski Sehir)
• Hippocrates Square
• Lindos Acropolis
• Butterfly Valley
• Mandraki Harbour

These landmarks continue to draw short-term visitors thanks to the simplified travel procedures under the visa-on-arrival scheme.

Greece’s Fast-Track Program Valid Until April 2026

The visa-on-arrival program for Turkish nationals was officially launched on April 1, 2024, following a bilateral agreement between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The initiative allows Turkish citizens to visit select Greek islands for one to seven days without the need for a pre-approved visa.

Greek Consul General in Istanbul, Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, emphasized that the program was developed in collaboration with the European Commission and required approval from other EU member states.

“We reapplied to implement it again this year because the results were almost 100 percent positive,” said Ambassador Koutras.

Following the program's success, the European Commission extended it through April 2026, and expanded coverage to 12 Greek islands, namely:

• Rhodes
• Kos
• Lesbos (Lesvos)
• Samos
• Chios (Hios)
• Symi
• Leros
• Limnos
• Kalymnos
• Kastellorizo
• Patmos
• Samothrace

Strong Growth in Cross-Border Travel

Ambassador Koutras reported that over 110,000 Turkish nationals used the visa-on-arrival option to visit Greece in 2024, contributing to a broader figure of 1.3 million Turkish tourists entering Greece that year. Meanwhile, over 600,000 Greek citizens visited Türkiye, underscoring the growing trend of bilateral tourism.

Official data from the General Police Directorate of the North Aegean revealed that 54,373 visas were issued across just three Northeast Aegean islands by the end of August 2024, further highlighting the success of the initiative.

Economic Impact and Regional Reactions

While the program has boosted the Greek tourism sector significantly, some local Turkish media outlets expressed concerns over the scale of outbound tourism. Headlines such as “We made Greece rich” and “We benefited one of our tourism competitors by 10 percent” reflect ongoing debates about the economic implications for Türkiye.

Nonetheless, the numbers speak for themselves — the visa-on-arrival initiative is proving to be mutually beneficial, strengthening economic ties and cultural exchange between the two neighboring nations.

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