Tag: Mercan Group

The “Pearl of the Ionian Sea” — Corfu — is entering a new chapter in luxury marine tourism. The Hellenic Parliament has officially approved a €50 million investment for the construction of a state-of-the-art superyacht marina, positioning Corfu among the Mediterranean’s premier luxury nautical destinations. The new marina will be developed as a modern tourist […]

The Golden Visa residence permit-for-investments program is rapidly returning to a more normal pace after a sharp increase in demand, recording successive and larger annual decreases in the rate of submission of new applications. Based on the latest Migration Ministry data, in September this year there was a 49.7% drop in the number of residence […]

CBRE, during the Porto Property Pace Conference, presented trends and opportunities in the real estate market in Porto. In a statement, the consultancy firm stated that the city “is experiencing economic and tourism growth, accompanied by demographic changes, but urban space is experiencing limited expansion.” This limitation has consequences such as “increasing pressure on housing, […]

AIMA (National Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) issued 386,463 residence permits as of October 22 of this year, 60% more than in the same period in 2024, and estimates that the 50% reduction in the number of immigrants entering the country will continue. These figures were provided by Pedro Portugal Gaspar, Chairman of the […]

The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, stated that AIMA will resolve the pending Golden Visa applications in 2026, after the completion of the processes for the most vulnerable immigrants. The minister said that the pendency will be resolved in 2026, during the specialised debate on the 2026 State Budget. The resolution of these […]

As travel receipts from tourism increase, state revenues are also expanding, not only from business taxation and VAT, but also from fees imposed on tourism activities, such as the climate resilience fee and the cruise passenger fee. In the period from July 21, when the implementation of the cruise measure began, until October 21, state […]

According to the latest monthly report from INSETE, the Research Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Greece’s tourism industry is on track for a historic record in 2025. Visitor arrivals, tourism revenue, and the short-term rental market have all reached new highs, confirming Greece’s position as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations. Surge in […]

According to a new report by the National Bank of Greece (NBG), Greece attracts over 11% of all island tourists worldwide, securing its position as one of the world’s leading island tourism destinations. The study, titled “Greek Islands,” highlights that the country’s islands play a central role in driving Greece’s tourism growth, while also facing […]

Luxury home sales prices are now up to double what they were five years ago, estate agents say, a sign of the rapid growth of this segment of the housing market. The big increases are not limited to Mykonos and Santorini, but also affect the Ionian and Dodecanese islands: Properties on Meganisi and Kefalonia sell […]

With over 35 years of global investment migration expertise, Mercan Group has officially established a strategic partnership with the Government of Panama to jointly promote Panama Qualified Investor Program, opening new pathways for global investors seeking residency and investment opportunities. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Mercan Group in the international investment migration arena. […]

Travel and tourism exports totalled €4.3 billion in August, which contributed to the rise in the services balance surplus. Despite the rise in exports, imports are still penalising the economy’s external balance, according to ECO. In total, tourism and travel exports rose by €180.15 million when compared to the figures recorded in August 2025, according […]

According to the latest data from Portugal’s Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the number of U.S. citizens living in Portugal rose from 14,129 in 2023 to 19,258 in 2024, marking an impressive 36.3% increase. This significant growth aligns with reports from leading Iberian Peninsula real estate developers, confirming that American interest in the Portuguese […]

According to preliminary data released by the Bank of Greece, the country welcomed approximately 25.9 million international visitors between January and August 2025, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase. This solid growth further strengthens Greece’s position as one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations. During the same period, tourism revenue rose even faster — up 12% […]

The Athens Riviera is undergoing a major shift in investment trends. Recent data shows that one in four property investors in the area is now under 40, signaling a new wave of younger buyers who are redefining the luxury real estate market along Athens’ southern coastline. A New Generation of Investors: From Short-Term Profit to […]

Greece’s construction and real estate sectors are undergoing a major transformation. With the rise of energy upgrades, property renovations, and smart investing, the housing market in Athens and across the country is entering a new phase of sustainable growth. From rising construction material costs to the growing demand for energy efficiency, the industry now stands […]