00:01There is nowhere quite like Halkidiki, locals like to say.
00:05For Greeks the region has long been a favorite holiday destination, not only summer but throughout the year,
00:10particularly for weekend getaways.
00:12The latest figures however suggest that many Europeans share their enthusiasm.
00:16More than 1 million international tourists are estimated to have visited Halkidiki in 2025
00:20and these years numbers are expected to be similar if not higher.
00:23Even images of the major wildfire in the region had no discernible impact on tourist arrival
00:28with traffic showing not the slightest decline in the days that followed.
00:31The profile of visitors to the region has also changed dramatically in recent years.
00:35Geopolitical developments have led to a sharp decline in the number of Russian tourists,
00:39many of whom traditionally combined a holiday in Halkidiki with a visit to Mount Athos.
00:43Their absence however has already been offset not only by growing numbers of visitors from neighboring Balkan countries
00:49but also, and increasingly, by tourists from Western Europe.
00:52I am here at Sunny Beach, it's beautiful, the sea is splendid, the people are wonderful,
00:59it's good, there are many shops, many experiences to do, it's a wonderful place, I don't know what to say.
01:08I'll return the next year.
01:09We love Halkidiki, me and my family going around the island, seeing all the scenery, it's a very beautiful place
01:15and that's why we come back every year for around two weeks.
01:19We like hiking around the forests, you know, very beautiful natural scenery and then seeing the sea,
01:25the water is very warm and enjoyable and clear and yeah, it's just a great place to be.
01:29I absolutely love it, I've been here before, nine years ago and I think it's just one of the best
01:35places in Greece,
01:36I love it very much and it's changed a lot, in nine years it's grown, it's very beautiful, it's a
01:42great place for the summer.
01:44It's a very nice trip here, one of the most beautiful trips we had.
01:48The beach is wonderful, I would compare it to the Maldives, I've never been on the Maldives, but I'll show
01:53it exactly the same.
01:54We came here because we usually go to Italy, to the beach, but it's too crowded and here it was
02:01just perfect, also the weather was amazing.
02:03We found great weather, great food and the beaches is just amazing, we really like it and enjoy it a
02:10lot.
02:13The beaches of the Chalciidea, the beach, the German people of Oamos and the United States –
02:18just this one, certainly – the beach, I see, well-being in our area, I have to live in Europe,
02:21the Hylquidea, the German people of Israel.
02:22If you ask for the beaches of the river and thank you very much for the region…
02:25Even the great weather is the beach!
02:27The beach is the beach, the beach – it's almost like it's near.
02:28The beach, the beach of the beach, the Nausea, the beach, the population, the whole city,
02:29the beach, the beach, the beach, the beach, the beach, the beach...
02:29It's just the beach of the beach.
02:32The beach is the beach.
02:34For the EuroNews, Yannis Giacchini.
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