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The decision to grant Turkish citizens visa-free access to certain Greek islands has been met with enthusiasm by cruise operators and tour companies.
Launched in April 2024, the program allows Turks to stay for up to seven days on select Greek islands without a Schengen visa, boosting tourism and cross-border travel.
Regarding this announcement, Ozgu Alnitemiz, Türkiye Director of Celestyal Cruises and Karavan Tourism, said the change removes one of the biggest barriers for travelers.
“Visa fees can reach up to €200 with service charges, and that has discouraged many people. With this obstacle gone, the islands will become far more attractive to Turkish holidaymakers,” he explained.
Alnitemiz added that the policy could also strengthen Türkiye’s role in regional tourism. An increase in Turkish passengers, he said, would encourage international cruise companies to expand their routes through Turkish ports, creating a ripple effect that benefits both countries’ economies.
Despite the optimism, industry insiders remain cautious. Alnitemiz underlined that decisions within the Schengen system are influenced by powerful members like Germany, and the permanence of this new arrangement will depend on wider European support.
If Greece’s move is endorsed by other Schengen countries, it could serve as a pilot project for broader visa flexibility in Europe. “It’s an encouraging start,” he noted, “but for it to bring lasting results, it needs to evolve into a long-term policy.”
Tour operators are already anticipating a major rise in bookings. İsmail Fırat Cevik, board member of Saltur Tourism, described the move as a revival of a pre-pandemic practice, when travelers could obtain visas directly at the port. In recent years, lengthy procedures and unpredictable approval times have made many Turks think twice about visiting Greece.
Cevik said interest in Greek island cruises from Türkiye had already been rising, driven by investments from both local and international operators.
With visa-free travel now back on the table, he expects demand to climb even higher.
“Even with the challenges of high exchange rates, we could see up to a 50% increase in reservations this season,” he predicted.
Tourism experts believe the impact will be felt on both sides of the Aegean.
For Greece, the change is likely to bring a surge in short-term visitors' spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping, and excursions.
For Türkiye, it strengthens ports like Izmir, Kusadasi, and Bodrum as attractive departure points for international cruise routes.
Although the policy has only just been introduced, many in the sector view it as a much-needed boost heading into the busy 2025 summer season.
After years of challenges for the travel industry, the expectation is that visa-free entry will not only encourage more spontaneous trips but also foster closer tourism ties between the two neighbors.
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