At the Destination Management Summit 2026, held on Friday 13 November in Thessaloniki alongside the Philoxenia trade show, panellists discussing international demand said the market is moving from a seller’s to a buyer’s market, with international tour operators gaining leverage for 2027. The event was co-organised by TIF-HELEXPO and XRIMA & TOURISMOS.
The panel featured Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) president Giannis Chatzis, Domes Resorts head Giorgos Spanos and Christos Michalakis, representing Dodecanese travel agents. Speakers noted that room for further price rises has narrowed in several destinations as travellers weigh the total cost of a holiday, and it was stated that tourism revenue grew by about 14% over the past three years while related tax burdens rose by 258%.
Infrastructure gaps, island-to-island connectivity, visa delays for markets such as India and the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism were also in focus; speakers warned the framework could restrict large organised investments in mature destinations such as Rhodes, Kos and Corfu. Rhodes and Rethymno were proposed as pilot destinations for extending the season.