Corfu: thriving on tourism, dependent on outside energy

In 2024, Corfu Airport handled more than 4.3 million passengers, according to data from Fraport Greece. At the same time, figures from the Bank of Greece show that the Ionian Islands received over 3.4 million visits and nearly 25 million overnight stays, with tourism revenues exceeding €1.9 billion. For an island of around 100,000 residents, these figures reflect an extremely intense seasonal activity.

This activity has a direct energy impact. Hotels, air conditioning, swimming pools, restaurants, port services, and transport create a large summer peak in consumption. Studies on the energy consumption of the Ionian Islands show that in Corfu, electricity demand rises in parallel with air arrivals and peaks in August, the month of the highest tourist traffic.

At the same time, western Greece lies next to one of Europe’s key energy corridors. Within this geoeconomic context, Corfu is located near a potential western energy corridor linking Greece with the Adriatic and Italy. If the country develops its new energy networks, the Igoumenitsa and northern Ionian area could become a distribution and support hub for energy infrastructure toward western Europe.

However, for Corfu to benefit from this geoeconomic reality, certain conditions must be met. First, western Greece must be connected to the major natural gas transmission networks that already cross the country. Second, energy infrastructure must be developed in the Igoumenitsa–Ionian zone to enable the distribution of energy to the islands and to maritime transport in the Adriatic. Third, Corfu must be integrated into this system through modern energy networks, reducing energy costs for the tourism economy.

Geography gave Corfu a strategic position at the entrance to the Adriatic. Tourism gave it economic strength. The question now is whether—and when—the island will connect to the new energy routes taking shape in the region.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS