The increase in tourist arrivals in Greece in the first seven months of the year neared a two-digit number, with arrivals up 9.95 percent in the period January-July against the same period in 2010, with the most popular destinations being the islands of Rhodes and Kos, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Federation of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE).

According to the figures, coming from the main airports throughout the country, foreign arrivals in the 7-month period reached 6,458,612 compared with 5,874,144 in the same period last year.

The biggest increase in foreign arrivals was recorded on the island of Rhodes, with 28.2 percent, followed by the island of Kos, with 26.2 percent, while substantial increases were also recorded in Heraklion (Crete, 14.4 percent), Hania (Crete) with 8.52 percent, and Thessaloniki with 11.77 percent.