Policy & Market Data

European bathing water quality map showing Cyprus and Greece with highest ratings while Albania, Poland, and Hungary rank low

EEA Report: Albania, Poland, Hungary Among Lowest for Bathing Water Quality; Cyprus, Greece Lead

Only 16.8% of Albanian monitored sites rated excellent; Cyprus achieves 100% as European Environment Agency assesses 22,289 bathing waters across the continent.

19 Jul 2026

International tourists walk through a narrow stone street in a traditional Greek village with white-washed buildings and blue

Policy & Market Data

Greece Tourism Sees 2.9% Rise in Arrivals, 2.7% Overnight Stay Growth in May

Hellenic Statistical Authority data shows 4 million arrivals and 15.8 million overnight stays, driven by international visitors.

18 Jul 2026

Turkish hotel with guests in modern lobby, representing the country's accommodation sector growth in 2026.

Policy & Market Data

Turkey Hotel Revenue Growth Slows to 30.3% in First Five Months of 2026

Revenue growth in Türkiye's accommodation sector fell from 46% in January to 30.3% in May, signaling margin pressure despite strong visitor numbers.

17 Jul 2026

Somali traveler holding passport at computer applying for traditional visa through Turkish embassy instead of e-Visa system.

Policy & Market Data

Türkiye Excludes Somalia from African e-Visa Eligible Countries

Somalia removed from list of African nations eligible for Türkiye's e-Visa programme, requiring Somali travellers to apply through traditional embassy channels.

17 Jul 2026

Greek island residents fill water containers from a public tap during a severe drought affecting Aegean tourism destinations.

Policy & Market Data

Seven Greek Aegean Islands Declare Drought Emergencies as Peak Tourism Strains Water Supply

Astypalaia's reservoir is at one-sixth capacity; a temporary desalination plant and €1.5m in aid are deployed, but officials fear another dry year.

17 Jul 2026

Unlicensed hotel buildings in Cyprus with warning tape and regulatory documents, illustrating licensing compliance issues.

Policy & Market Data

Cyprus licensing chaos: 55% of hotels operate without licence, Airbnb crackdown urged

Audit Office report reveals only 23% of hotels fully licensed; STEK proposes seven reforms as illegal short-term rentals surge.

16 Jul 2026

International patients receiving medical treatment in a Turkish hospital facility.

Policy & Market Data

Türkiye Q1 health tourism revenue hits $761.5M, per-patient spend up 39%

Revenue from international patients reached $761.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, with average per-patient spending rising sharply year-on-year, according to the Service Exporters' Association.

15 Jul 2026

Turkish construction workers operate heavy machinery on a large-scale infrastructure project site in an international locatio

Policy & Market Data

Turkish contractors secure $2.7bn in overseas projects in H1 2026

Turkish firms undertook 57 projects worth $2.7 billion across 27 countries in the first half of 2026, according to Trade Ministry data.

15 Jul 2026

Turkish tourists walking through a historic stone street in Skopje, North Macedonia's capital city.

Policy & Market Data

Turkey Becomes North Macedonia’s Top Tourism Source Market with 34,681 Visitors in May

Foreign overnight stays rose 8.8% year-on-year in May, while 2025 international arrivals hit 916,001, up 10.3%.

13 Jul 2026

Israeli tourists walking through a historic Bulgarian street lined with traditional architecture and cafes.

Policy & Market Data

Bulgaria loses over 70,000 Israeli tourists as Middle East conflict hits bookings

The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association warns of potential layoffs unless the government provides incentives to offset cancellations by Israeli travellers.

13 Jul 2026

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady cruise ship docked at a Mediterranean port during daytime.

Policy & Market Data

Turkey Bars Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady Over LGBTQ+ Passenger Profile

Two planned stops in Kuşadası and Istanbul were cancelled after Ankara cited 'morals' and 'family values', forcing a reroute to Egypt and Crete.

12 Jul 2026

Tourists enjoying the crystal-clear waters and white-washed buildings of a Greek island village during peak summer season.

Policy & Market Data

Greek Tourism Leads Europe in Q2: +38% Arrivals, +64% Receipts per ETC Report

Greece recorded the strongest growth among European destinations in the second quarter, with international arrivals up 38% and tourism receipts surging 64% year-on-year.

12 Jul 2026