Suspended biometric checks credited with rise in Greece and Turkey sales

Agents have attributed an uplift in sales to Greece and Turkey for this summer to suspended biometric checks and competitive prices.

The reports follow increased demand for short-haul holidays as the Iran war continues.

Greece suspended biometric border checks for UK passport holders under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) in mid-April, although further clarification of the policy has yet to be provided.

Ryanair has since urged all 29 EES countries to follow Greece’s lead, a plea backed by Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said.

More: Abta and Future Travel Coalition survey members on EES and Middle East

The trade also cited sluggish Turkey sales earlier this year, although new official figures show UK visitor numbers were up 3.4% year on year for the first three months of 2026.

The Travel Network Group’s commercial director, Katharina Peck, said: “Greece has seen a clear uplift in demand, helped by renewed customer confidence following the suspension of biometric checks for UK travellers.

“Turkey also remains strongly booked, with more competitive and stabilised pricing supporting sales.”

While the consortium reported “slightly softer” volumes over the bank holiday weekend, it described trading in the last week as “steady”.

Advantage Travel Partnership said Greece’s share of sales rose from 7.7% in mid April to 9.8% by the end of the month, indicating growing consumer confidence and interest.

In contrast, the share of sales for Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearics collectively saw a “gradual softening” over the same period.

Chief executive Julia Lo-Bue Said said: “Following Greece’s decision to remove EES requirements for UK travellers this summer, we have seen a clear and consistent uplift in demand for the destination across our travel agent membership.

“This shift suggests that travellers are increasingly factoring in the potential for disruption at EU borders when making their holiday choices and are actively opting for destinations where the arrival experience is likely to be smoother and more predictable.”

She added: “It reinforces our long-standing position that the rollout of EES in its current form risks undermining confidence at a critical time when families are thinking of booking for the summer.”

Travel By Hannah director Hannah Porter cited a “noticeable uplift in demand over the past week”, with Greece performing “particularly strongly” thanks to the removal of EES checks and Turkey sales “starting to pick up” due to the destination’s “strong value for money”.

She said: “We had a super Saturday with walk-in bookings for more than 12 customers, all heading to Greece. Clients are still prioritising affordability and guaranteed sunshine.”

Seaside Travel head of business and commercial Paula Gleeson said sales rebounded in April. She noted an “amazing lates market” and “some fantastic pricing”, crediting staff blog posts for boosting Turkey and Cyprus sales. 

La Vida Travel director Karen Marin Reyes reported a rise in Greece enquiries and added: “We’ve seen a rise in Turkey and Cyprus sales with some amazing prices by operators.”