cde.news desk · 1 min read
A Financial Times report says changing travel habits are extending the Mediterranean tourism season, as more visitors avoid extreme summer temperatures and overcrowding in July and August in favour of spring and autumn holidays.
Hotels in Greece, Spain and Italy are recording strong autumn occupancy, with some properties reporting more guests in September than during August. Hoteliers attribute the shift to climate change, milder autumn weather, lower prices and growing concerns about overtourism.
In Greece, July and August accounted for 37.8% of tourism receipts in 2025, down from 42.9% in 2019, according to Bank of Greece figures. Spain also recorded stronger growth outside the traditional peak season, with foreign arrivals reaching 10.3 million in May, up 9.5% year-on-year, exceeding the 9.7 million recorded in June.
Italy is experiencing a similar trend, with many beach hotels extending operations until the end of October. Hotel occupancy reached 56.2% in September, compared with 58.5% in August.
The shift is welcomed by tourism operators and governments seeking to spread visitor numbers more evenly throughout the year, reduce pressure on popular destinations and encourage higher-quality tourism.
A longer season also offers businesses more consistent revenues, helps recover investment costs and improves employment conditions by reducing reliance on temporary contracts.
However, the trend could deepen Mediterranean economies’ dependence on tourism, a sector characterised by relatively low productivity.
