Region of Crete attends World Travel Market 2026 in London
The Region of Crete took part in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2026, held in London from November 3 to 5, as part of its 2026 Tourism Promotion Programme, the region said in an announcement.
WTM is described by the region as one of the largest international tourism trade fairs, drawing thousands of industry professionals, destination representatives, tourism organizations, airlines, travel agents and media from around the world each year. The region said its importance this year was reinforced by the participation of major British tourism companies, including Jet2holidays, EasyJet holidays and TUI.
The British market remains a leading source of visitors to Crete. Arrivals from the United Kingdom at Crete’s airports totaled 898,526 passengers between January and September 2026, keeping Britain in second place among the island’s origin markets, according to the region. British travelers continue to show strong interest in established holiday types as well as themed experiences in Crete, such as culture, gastronomy, nature, wellness and outdoor tourism, which the region said supports its strategy for sustainable tourism growth and extending the season.
Meetings and visits at the Crete stand
During the fair, regional representatives held meetings with airline, travel agency and media representatives. Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou, the regional councillor for tourism, gave interviews to several domestic and international media outlets.
At the Region of Crete’s stand, numerous meetings took place with Cretan business people. George Astroulakis, president of the Municipal Company of Agios Nikolaos (DAEAN), attended as part of his own participation in the fair. The stand was also visited by Greece’s Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Deputy Tourism Minister Anna Karamanli, and the Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), Andreas Fiorentinos.
Crete named Europe’s second most desirable island
The region said it had a notable presence at the awards ceremony of Wanderlust, which it described as the world’s largest travel magazine, held in the presence of Prince Harry of the British royal family. Crete received an award naming it the second most desirable island in Europe, according to the region.
Regional delegation
The Region of Crete was represented at WTM by Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou, regional councillor for tourism; Dr. Michail Klontzas, deputy regional governor for extroversion; Nikos Alexakis, head of the region’s Tourism Directorate; Maria Lavdaki, head of the Tourism Department of the Lasithi Regional Unit; and Olga Milioni, head of the Planning and Development Department of the Tourism Directorate.
Officials’ comments
Kotsoglou said the WTM fair in London falls between an assessment of the current year and forecasts for the next. He said the British market is expected to narrowly exceed 1 million visitors for the first time in 2026, which he said shows its strength this year and in years to come. He added, however, that pre-bookings for 2027 are currently down by about 10 percent compared with the same period last year, a decline he attributed to high fuel and airfare prices, inflation and the broader cost of living, geopolitical issues, and travelers’ general reluctance to commit this far ahead.
Kotsoglou said the region, as the body representing Cretan tourism, has a duty to be transparent about such trends. “We are fully confident that we will reverse this trend,” he said, adding that turnout at the Crete stand was very high and that meetings were held during the fair with hoteliers and the GNTO on supporting the island’s tourism product.
Dr. Michail Klontzas, deputy regional governor for extroversion, said the Region of Crete was again present at the London tourism fair, using targeted actions to present images of Crete worldwide. He credited the staff of the Tourism Directorate for their continued efforts to raise Crete’s profile on the global tourism map.
