Tourism mecca Santorini was named Greece’s most Instagrammable island, with an astonishing 7,828,338 Instagram posts containing Santorini-related hashtags.
travel expert A concierge like a king investigated Instagram hashtag data for more than 50 Greek islands to find the most popular and “Instagrammable” islands. The picture-perfect island of Santorini takes the top spot.
This volcanic island is very popular with tourists and has been visited by 550,000 tourists. Visitor Last year, people came by plane, not to mention people who came by boat.
Along with Instagram, the hashtag “Santorini” has been viewed 3.2 billion times. tick tock The video platform “santorinigreece” has 376 million views.
Santorini’s Instagram-worthy charm lies in its aesthetic combination of azure waters and Cycladic architecture, characterized by whitewashed buildings with blue domed roofs.
Thousands of influencers and tourists flooded social media platforms with carefully selected images of the island’s architecture and impressive sunsets.
The most photogenic Greek islands
Crete follows right behind Santorini. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, with over 6,152,737 postings on her photogenic coastline and rich architectural heritage.
Crete is home to historically significant Minoan settlements, tombs, and cemeteries that contribute to the island’s Instagram popularity.
The long coastline is also a big draw, from wide sandy beaches to rocky coves with crystal-clear water. Balos Beach, with its turquoise waters and exotic lagoon, and Falasarna Beach, known for its spectacular sunsets, are popular spots for sun seekers and content creators.
With 5,426,554 posts containing Mykonos-related hashtags, Mykonos secured third place in this Instagrammable lineup.
Known for its whitewashed Cycladic architecture, hedonistic club scene and golden sandy beaches, Mykonos has long been a party destination for the rich and famous.
Celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Bella Hadid have also graced the island’s shores, leaving their digital footprints on the island. Beyond its sunny beaches, Mykonos is also known for its glamorous nightlife that fuels the feeds of wealthy influencers.
Mykonos’ unique blend of seaside and glamor makes it an attractive destination for those looking to capture the perfect Instagram photo.
Cosplay has a lot of appeal on Instagram.
Cosplay came in 4th place, with 2,817,622 posts containing cosplay-related hashtags. This Dodecanese island is known for its combination of historic sites and sandy beaches. Whether it’s rugged coves, Roman landmarks or lush valleys, Kos has carved out a niche for itself on Instagram user profiles.
Rhodes ranks 5th in popularity on Instagram, with 2,514,587 posts tagged with Rhodes-related hashtags. Rhodes, also known as the “Isle of the Knights,” has a rich history that is central to its Instagram appeal.
The medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has become a popular tourist destination in Europe and offers plenty of opportunities for awe-inspiring photos. This unique blend of history and scenic beauty has made Rhodes a standout on social media.
Corfu, one of Greece’s most popular vacation spots, comes in at number 6 with 2,348,893 Instagram posts with Corfu-related hashtags. The sandy coves with cobalt blue waters are filled with idyllic spots perfect for photos, especially if you go in the off-season to escape the crowds.
The top 10 most Instagrammable Greek islands are Zakynthos in 7th place with 1,304,017 posts, Zante in 8th place with 1,115,256 posts, Paros in 9th place with 1,032,217 posts, and Hydra in 10th place with 1,008,231 posts, all of which are islands. Has been tagged with related hashtags. .
How does social media influence travel decisions?
Along with Greece, other Mediterranean hotspots include cyprus and turkey It also attracts a huge number of tourists and is extremely popular on Instagram. Cyprus welcomed 3.2 million tourists last year, while 51.4 million tourists will flow to Turkey in 2022.
YouGov’s 2022 Travel and tourism report We found that 4 in 10 Gen Zers use social media as their primary source of information for planning their vacation.
In a world where visual storytelling is highly influential, Instagram has become a key factor in shaping travelers’ destination choices.
Thanasis Mougios from Kinglike Concierge puts it succinctly: “Social media has had a huge impact on people and is now a key factor when researching vacation destinations.”
Is social media contributing to overtourism?
As Santorini has been fighting, getting noticed on Instagram comes at a high price. overtourism Since the stratospheric rise of social media. The village of Oia, famous for its colorful sunsets, is crowded with thousands of tourists with selfie sticks, all taking the exact same photo.flying dress pictures. ”
The Greek island has a population of 15,000 people but receives around 2 million tourists a year. This means that for every full-time local resident she receives 1,333 tourist visits.
According to recent residents, telegraphSantorini’s picturesque Fira is often overwhelmed by crowds so dense that it’s difficult to navigate.
One Fira shopkeeper told the magazine: “Of course we want money and we want tourism, but the people we see on cruises are of no use to us. They don’t want to use it. Their ships have everything, including souvenir shops, so they just come walking around and blocking our streets.”
Efforts are already underway on Santorini to address the damage caused by mass tourism. previous campaign We encourage people to visit other parts of Greece, especially outside of peak season.
Paris Tsartas, professor of tourism development at Harokopio University in Athens, said: Al Jazeera Some measures have already been taken, such as individual destinations setting up bodies to deal with tourism, but “we should have taken steps 20 years ago,” he said.
This article was created and distributed by Wealth of Geeks.