Ionian Islands
Accounts for 10 percent of Greece’s tourism receipts
Prime tourism destination for European visitors
Located off the west coast of Greece, the Ionian Islands draw more than 3 million visitors a year.
The Ionian Islands offer excellent support infrastructure for tourism with three major international airports, some 100,000 hotel beds and more than 80 ports and marinas, including the port of Corfu which serves as a leading cruise ship destination. The leading tourist islands of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia have helped draw three million tourists to the region, mainly from markets like the UK, Germany, and Italy.
The region’s tourism industry has drawn fresh investment to the hospitality sector, including in 4- and 5-star accommodation on Corfu and on the island of Skorpios – once owned by Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis – which is being redeveloped into a luxury resort by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. Other foreign investments include an upgrade of the three airports by German airport operator Fraport as part of a 40-year Greek regional airports concession, with the projects in Zakynthos and Cephalonia having already been completed.
The Ionian Islands are also noted for their production of regional wine varieties, olive oil, citrus fruit, honey, and various dairy and cheese products. The region is known for its local cuisine, which blends Italian and other foreign influences with Greek cooking. The region may have significant potential in energy, including both from renewable sources and possible hydrocarbon reserves.
Key Facts
Ionian Islands
Leading tourism destination in Greece, particularly among UK visitors
Booming tourism economy has kept per capita income up and unemployment down
Extensive tourism infrastructure including three airports, port and marina facilities, and 100,000 hotel beds
Tourism
Regional Opportunities
Tourism
Infrastructure and Logistics
Energy
More than 3 million international tourists visit the Ionian Islands.
One of Europe’s most popular destinations, particularly among UK visitors, the Ionian Islands hosted more than three million tourists in 2018 representing more than 10 visitors for every inhabitant of the region. The strength of the tourism industry has drawn fresh investment from travel and tour operators, particularly on the popular islands of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia.
Learn more about Tourism in Greece
Ionian Islands
In Numbers
A strong and well-established tourism industry has supported incomes and jobs in the Ionian Islands in recent years.
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€3,257 million
GDP in 2018, in current prices
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€16,000
Per capita GDP in 2018, in current prices
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9%
Percentage of visitors out of Greece’s total in 2018
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1st
Regional ranking based on the gross value added by the tertiary sector
Ionian Islands Demographics
Unemployment in the Ionian Islands has been consistently below the national average.
With just over 200,000 inhabitants, the Ionian Islands are Greece’s smallest region in terms of population. But with annual visitors dwarfing the number of local residents each year, the region’s robust tourism industry has helped keep per capita income – particularly on the three main tourism islands of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia – above the national average. Unemployment rates have also trended lower than the rest of Greece.
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203,869
Population (2019)
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1.9%
Share of Greek population (2019)
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22.8%
Tertiary Educational Attainment of population aged between 25-64 (2018)
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89.7/km2
Population Density (2018)
Sources: Eurostat, Hellenic Statistical Authority, European Commission, Regional Governments, SETE, Enterprise Greece, and HWEA
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