Greece is renowned for its stunning beaches, delicious cuisine, and laid-back pace of life. It's hardly a surprise it's such a popular holiday destination with people from all over the world making their way to the country each summer.

There's one island which tourism experts say welcomes visitors. Kos is home to an incredible range of things for tourists to explore and enjoy from rich history to golden-sand beaches.

Nikos Sofos, director of Sustainable Tourism Development for Kos, has shared what summer 2026 will look like for the island. The expert says tourism is a "gold mine" for people living on the island.

He says: "We were born in a tourist destination, we grew up with a tourist mentality, so for us, tourism is not only a matter of survival and an economic sector but it is a way of thinking.

"If we have no tourists, we will be upset. We were born with tourists and to live with them."

The expert adds that he has "very high" expectations for the season next year.

He says: "Things can change from day to day but if nothing changes, it is going to be a good season.

"Kos has a great demand and we try to keep a balance between tourism and sustainability.

"Sustainability is not only a matter of natural resources, energy, wastage, it is also a consideration for our society.

"It's important for us to find a balance between five-star hotel accommodation and the rest of the local businesses."

Nikos adds that mass tourism often accompanies all-inclusive hotels. He says the municipality's new targets are to find ways to help tourists experience the island away from all-inclusives.

Nikos says that for those who stay in all-inclusive resorts, there are often so many things to do inside the hotel that many visitors don't often venture out to see the island.

He says: "We need mass tourism and all-inclusive hotels, they offer jobs and help with taxes, but it's important for the traveller and for family businesses that we offer experiences, accommodation and activities outside of all-inclusive spaces.

"One of the main reasons for this too is that visitors will get a more authentic experience of Greece and of Kos."

Nikos says one of the targets for the island will be to extend the visiting season.

Currently, he says visitors generally come from May to September, but he hopes it will become a longer season from early spring to mid-November.

On the capacity of the island's hotels, Nikos says: "The hotels are quite happy with their capacity, they invest a lot into their businesses.

"That's part of what makes Kos such a popular tourist destination. The hoteliers are really interested in their quality and they also provide very good value for money.

"Everyone is happy - it's a win-win situation. If everyone is happy, things go well and you can see that from the number of visitors we have in Kos."