UK Holiday Searches Surge for Crete Ahead of 2026, Report Finds

 

Crete ranks among the fastest-growing destinations for British travelers in 2026, recording an 18 percent increase in holiday package searches, according to a new report by British Airways Holidays.

This rise ranks Greece as the fifth fastest-growing destination in the report compiled by the subsidiary of the UK’s national airline British Airways.

The findings are included in the tour operator’s 2026 Travel Trends Report, produced in collaboration with Globetrender, a leading travel trend forecasting agency. The report analyzes customer search behavior while also identifying broader trends expected to shape travel choices in the year ahead.

Crete’s strong performance places it among a group of destinations seeing notable growth in interest from UK travelers.

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Athens Wins Two Global Titles at the World Travel Awards 2025

 The Greek capital of Athens received two major distinctions at the World Travel Awards 2025, reinforcing its status on the international tourism map.

The Greek capital was named World’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2025 and, for the first time, World’s Leading City Break Destination for 2025.

Photo source: Athens Municipality

Develop Athens CEO Ioannis Georgizas attended the ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, alongside senior officials, highlighting the city’s efforts to boost its global visibility.

“These awards confirm the strategy we are implementing at the Athens Development Agency to internationally promote the city’s modern, creative, and sustainable identity,” Georgizas said upon receiving the honors.

The new global titles follow earlier European wins in October, when Athens was named Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination and received the title Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board for 2025.

At a national level, Greek hotels, resorts and tourism companies also received multiple accolades at the World Travel Awards 2025, underscoring Greece’s standing as a global leader in hospitality.

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The Greek Christmas dessert that was named the best in the world

 

Greek melomakarona named world’s best cookies by international taste platform

It has often gone head-to-head with its rival, the kourabiedes (Greek almond cookie), even appearing in a children’s book, and has come out the winner. 

It also wins the preferences of those who try to watch their diet, as while they cannot resist a festive sweet, they at least choose the one with fewer calories. 

Now, melomakarona (Greek honey cookies) have reached the top of the world, according to a new list by the international tasting platform Taste Atlas—though perhaps not in the category we might expect: they are titled “the best cookies in the world,” taking the number one spot on a list of one hundred sweets from around the globe.

Specifically, it is noted that although they were introduced by the ancient Phoenicians, today they are considered a traditional Greek Christmas sweet. 

Made from semolina, they are traditionally flavored with honey, orange zest, cinnamon, and other ingredients such as olive oil and cognac. 

“Immediately after baking, they are soaked in honey syrup and sprinkled with ground walnuts. Although some argue that ‘phoínikia’ refers to a slightly different sweet that may be fried and served without nuts, the two names are often used interchangeably.”

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US Travelers Name Greece World’s Best Tourism Destination for Fifth Time

 Greece has once again been named the World’s Best Tourism Destination, securing the title for a fifth consecutive year at the Global Traveler GT Tested Reader Survey Awards 2025, reinforcing its strong appeal in the highly competitive US travel market.

Organized by US-based travel magazine Global Traveler (FX Express Publications), the annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards are considered among the most credible distinctions in the American travel industry, as winners are determined exclusively through reader voting.

The 2025 survey ran from December 12, 2024, to August 31, 2025, attracting thousands of responses across 90 categories covering destinations, hotels and airlines.

read more:gtp