The Greek island of Santorini is re-opening for spring and summer tourism after seismic activity in early 2025 triggered a state of emergency, prompting local evacuations and a shutdown of the building trade. Government officials have issued a press release declaring the island “a safe, well-organized, and responsible tourism destination, fully prepared to welcome travellers from all over the world.”
For nearly a month between 26 January and 22 February 2025, the southern Aegean destination recorded over 20,000 earthquakes of magnitude one or higher. One of the tremors reached as high as 5.3 on the logarithmic Richter Scale, deemed “moderate” severity by experts.
The volcanic risk drove young families with children to seek safer territory and sent seasonal workers scurrying, bringing overwinter construction projects to a standstill. But with a degree of normality having returned in March, locals are now poised to see whether the tourists that drive its economy will return.
The University of Athens in Greece have reported 15,300+ earthquakes on Santorini in just the past 15 days, something that has never happened in the history of the planet! #Santorini #Amorgos #Greece #Cyclades #Earthquake #Earthquakes pic.twitter.com/gMjSXd1w1C
— LeanneSpurs (@LeanneSpurs) February 16, 2025
3.4 million annual visitors
Santorini had previously been a destination where overtourism was one of the main worries. With its instagrammable whitewashed roofs against clear blues skies and waters, it has regularly attracted holidaymakers and cruise ship passengers in numbers that swamp locals. The island has a population of just over 15,000 but welcomes around 3.4 million tourists annually, generating a turnover of €376 million.
In 2024, proposals from the Greek Environment and Energy Ministry aimed to limit further development on the island, a volcanic caldera where buildable land is at a premium. Locals were also outraged by a summer social media post by Panagiotis Kavallaris, president of the Thira municipal community. In the “Emergency Announcement”, Kavallaris issued an urgent plea for residents to limit their own movements, in the face of “another difficult day for our city and island with the arrival of 17,000 visitors from cruise ships!!!”
Cautious tourists wooed with bargain prices and refundable offers
But following the shock volcanic shutdown, the return of tourists is now eagerly awaited. Tourism stakeholders have said that potential holidaymakers have been monitoring the situation. Petros Zissimos, managing director of New York City-based Hellenic Holidays, told CNN Travel that would-be visitors have demonstrated caution about booking experiences such as sailing, food or wine tours and called for the island to “polish up its image again.”
Meanwhile island hoteliers, such as Markos Chaidemenos, the owner of a chain of five hotels, have reported flagging demand for April and May, which they are attempting to address with bargain prices and refundable options to reassure guests.
Tourism Minister, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, recently visited the island and participated in an extensive meeting with local authorities, where it was confirmed that infrastructure is unaffected, the scientific community is monitoring the seismic activity and the government is ready to “safeguard both residents and visitors” with updated civil protection plans.
The official release pointed out that “visitor interest in Santorini remains exceptionally strong. At the ITB Berlin International Tourism Fair, the response was outstanding, reaffirming that travellers from around the world continue to choose Santorini as a top holiday destination.”
