Greece is heading into its biggest tourism season of the year, but the summer rush is now facing a serious test.

Rising oil prices, fears over the Iran conflict, and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz are pushing up costs across the travel industry.

For a country that depends heavily on sun, sea, and visitors, the pressure could soon be felt from Athens to the islands.

On Monday, tourism leaders gathered at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens for the 34th General Assembly of SETE, Greece's main tourism body.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the industry as the country prepares for another packed summer.

He told delegates that Greece has handled major crises before.

"We have proven in the past that, through cooperation between the state and SETE, we can overcome very great adversities," Mitsotakis said.

"We did so during the years of the pandemic."

But this time, the threat is coming from far beyond Greece's borders.

Brent crude was reported at $108.22 a barrel on May 15, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains below pre-conflict levels.

That matters because higher fuel costs can quickly hit almost every part of a holiday.

Flights may become more expensive. Ferry ticket prices could rise. Cruise operators face bigger bills. Hotels also pay more for energy, food transport, and supplies.

On Greece's islands, the impact could be even sharper.

Food, goods, workers, and tourists often arrive by sea or air.

Even small cost increases can move quickly through the system: from ferry operators to hotels, restaurants, and holidaymakers.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said the sector remains strong, despite the uncertainty.

"Greek tourism today shows strong momentum, but also resilience, in an environment of intense competition, through crises and conditions of uncertainty," she said.

Mitsotakis warned that Greece must move fast if the wider travel market weakens.

"If the overall pie shrinks, we must be the country that suffers less from this crisis," he said, adding that instability in the Middle East could also create opportunities for Greek tourism.

For Greece, the mission is clear: protect demand, keep visitors coming, and defend one of the country's most important sources of income.

The postcard image is still of the sun, sea, and summer—but this year, the price of oil may help decide how hot the season really gets.