Chania: Rise in accommodation and catering revenue

A positive picture in tourism and catering in Chania emerges from data by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) for the second quarter of 2026, according to a report by HANIA.news. The turnover of accommodation businesses in the Chania Regional Unit reached 167.184 million euros, compared to 156.596 million euros in the corresponding quarter of 2025, an increase of 6.8% which translates to approximately 10.6 million euros in additional receipts. In parallel, turnover in catering in Chania increased by 4%, from 82.734 to 86.074 million euros, that is approximately 3.34 million euros more compared to last year. The two figures combined show that both main sectors of the local tourism economy moved upward within the same quarter.

At the national level, accommodation turnover increased by 6.1%, reaching 3.304 billion euros from 3.113 billion euros in the second quarter of 2025, with Chania moving slightly above the national average. In catering, however, the picture of the country moved in the opposite direction: the sector’s total turnover decreased by 2.5%, from 3.245 billion euros to 3.165 billion euros, making the increase recorded by Chania an exception on the national map. This contrast between local and national performance in catering is the element that stands out most in this year’s second quarter data.

Among the four Regional Units of Crete, the largest increase in accommodation was recorded by Heraklion with 12.2%, followed by Chania with 6.8%, Rethymno with 5.6%, and Lasithi with 4.7%. In catering, by contrast, Chania stood out with the highest percentage increase on the island (4%), against 3.5% in Rethymno, while Heraklion and Lasithi recorded decreases of 3.1% and 3.4% respectively. Commenting on the data, Chania MP Dora Bakogiannis of New Democracy spoke of a sector that “is developing dynamically,” connecting the revenue increase to the creation of new jobs and opportunities for the local labor market. The picture is consistent with other data from this year’s season, such as the record passenger traffic at Heraklion airport in August, which shows increased tourism activity across the entire island.

The ELSTAT figures capture the nominal turnover of businesses, not their net profit, and do not include information about operating costs, prices, or employment in the two sectors. The statistical service classifies businesses geographically based on their registered office, utilizing the Business Statistical Register and administrative and tax records, an element that must be taken into account when reading the percentages per Regional Unit. The full data by sector and Regional Unit are expected to be utilized by stakeholders and business associations in the Chania area in the coming period, as the season is still underway.