By Stathis Kousounis

Airport arrivals from abroad showed a mixed picture in June according to preliminary data, while there has been a major drop in arrivals on domestic flights, reflecting the crisis that is hurting domestic tourism.

Arrivals from abroad on Rhodes declined by 9.9 percent from the same month last year, amounting to 271,718 from 301,641. Domestic arrivals declined by 16.9 percent to 27,210. There was a 24.9 percent decline in arrivals from Germany in particular and a 41 percent drop from Italy. Similarly, arrivals to Kos from abroad dropped by 10.9 percent and to Iraklio, on Crete, by 1.9 percent.

On the other hand, Hania, alsoon Crete, showed an 11.2 percent rise in incoming tourism from abroad, amounting to 129,131 arrivals, while Cephalonia posted a 13 percent increase. Arrivals from abroad to Corfu climbed by 15.3 percent, with remarkable rise of 20.3 percent in the number of British visitors to the Ionian island.

The rising course in the incoming traffic for certain destinations that are popular with tourists is mostly attributed to the increase in flights by low-cost companies.