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Greece Among The Top 8 EU Destinations For Short-Term Rentals In Summer 2024

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 15, 2025

Greece has secured its spot as one of the eight most popular destinations for short-term rentals in the European Union, reflecting the increasing trend of platform-based tourism, according to Eurostat.

The country’s solid performance in the summer of 2024 aligns with a broader rise in short-term rental bookings across Europe. Eurostat’s latest data reveals an 18% year-on-year increase in bookings through platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia. Greece saw a 14.3% rise in overnight stays compared to 2023, contributing significantly to this growth.

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A Surge Across Europe

During the third quarter of 2024, short-term rental bookings across the EU reached 366.2 million overnight stays, with Greece accounting for 26.1 million of these, marking a 14.3% increase over the previous year.

The highest growth rates were seen in Malta (+40.9%), Germany (+26%), and Sweden (+24.6%). France, Spain, and Italy also experienced significant increases in bookings, with year-on-year growth rates of 23.8%, 20.2%, and 15.5%, respectively.

Strong Performance In The Summer Months

Across the EU, the third quarter of 2024 recorded robust growth in short-term rental bookings, with all three summer months showing impressive results:

July 2024: 135 million overnight stays, up 16.4% from the previous year.
August 2024: 152.2 million overnight stays, a 21.6% increase.
September 2024: 79 million overnight stays, rising 14% compared to 2023.

Malta led the EU in August with a 41.4% increase in overnight stays, followed by Germany (+32.7%) and France (+29.9%). Smaller increases were recorded in countries like Croatia (+9.7%), Bulgaria (+12.2%), and Slovenia (+13.6%).

In Greece, August saw a 16% rise in overnight stays, further cementing its status as a top summer destination in Europe.

Greece’s Continued Popularity In Short-Term Rentals

Greece’s growth in short-term rentals is part of a larger upward trend seen across the EU. The country is now firmly positioned as one of the eight most sought-after destinations for short-term rentals, joining:

France
Spain
Italy
Greece
Croatia
Germany
Portugal
Poland

The Rise Of Platform-Based Tourism

The Eurostat report underscores a broader trend of growing reliance on platform-based tourism, with all eight top destinations surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Greece’s inclusion among these countries highlights its enduring appeal to travellers seeking short-term rentals.

This sustained growth not only underscores Greece’s importance in the European tourism market but also reflects the country’s ability to adapt to evolving travel preferences.

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Moonshot’s Kimi K2: A Disruptive, Open-Source AI Model Redefining Coding Efficiency

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 14, 2025

Innovative Approach to Open-Source AI

In a bold move that challenges established players like OpenAI and Anthropic, Alibaba-backed startup Moonshot has unveiled its latest generative artificial intelligence model, Kimi K2. Released on a late Friday evening, this model enters the competitive AI landscape with a focus on robust coding capabilities at a fraction of the cost, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and scalability.

Cost Efficiency and Market Disruption

Kimi K2 not only offers superior performance metrics — reportedly surpassing Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 and OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 in coding tasks — but it also redefines pricing models in the industry. With fees as low as 15 cents per 1 million input tokens and $2.50 per 1 million output tokens, it stands in stark contrast to competitors who charge significantly more. This cost efficiency is expected to attract large-scale and budget-sensitive deployments, enhancing its appeal across diverse client segments.

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Benchmarking Against Industry Leaders

Moonshot’s announcement on platforms such as GitHub and X emphasizes not only the competitive performance of Kimi K2 but also its commitment to the open-source model—rare among U.S. tech giants except for select initiatives by Meta and Google. Renowned analyst Wei Sun from Counterpoint highlighted its global competitiveness and open-source allure, noting that its lower token costs make it an attractive option for enterprises seeking both high performance and scalability.

Industry Implications and the Broader AI Landscape

The introduction of Kimi K2 comes at a time when Chinese alternatives in the global AI arena are garnering increased investor interest. With established players like ByteDance, Tencent, and Baidu continually innovating, Moonshot’s move underscores a significant shift in AI development—a focus on cost reduction paired with open accessibility. Moreover, as U.S. companies grapple with resource allocation and the safe deployment of open-source models, Kimi K2’s arrival signals a competitive pivot that may influence future industry standards.

Future Prospects Amidst Global AI Competition

While early feedback on Kimi K2 has been largely positive, with praise from industry insiders and tech startups alike, challenges such as model hallucinations remain a known issue in generative AI. However, the model’s robust coding capability and cost structure continue to drive industry optimism. As the market evolves, the competitive dynamics between new entrants like Moonshot and established giants like OpenAI, along with emerging competitors on both sides of the Pacific, promise to shape the future trajectory of AI innovation on a global scale.