The forecasts of tourist agents and large tour operators for the summer, are slowly coming true, since they expect Greece to receive a total of 20 million tourists this year.

According to information by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), the tourist traffic is increased in May, compared to last year’s equivalent month, for most airports.

A high growth is observed in Athens, since “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport has welcome 76,446 more tourists compared to May 2013. 331,000 travelers have arrived in Athens, up by 30% over last year.

An increased tourist traffic was shown in “Macedonia” airport of Thessaloniki. Passenger arrivals increased by 7%. 145,565 tourists landed at the airport, with last year’s numbers being 136,021.

Rhodes welcomed 237,873 tourists, increased by 10.3% compared with May 2013. The tourism traffic in Kos has shown growth of 8%, where 122,043 tourists have visited it already.

Crete has seen further increases compared to last year. Tourists in Heraklion reached 328,778, while Chania has already been visited by 124,834 people. The increases since last year were 6.5% and 9% respectively.

Santorini may be one of the most expensive destinations in Greece, but tourists seem to prefer it. The island’s airport welcome 32,003 tourists in May, 27.2% more than last year.

A particular liking was shown by travelers to the Ionian islands. Arrivals, compared to last May, increased by 11.2% in Corfu, 18.1% in Zakynthos and 11.4% in Cephalonia.