Greece plans to introduce a €20 levy for cruise ship passengers visiting its popular islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos, during peak months. This measure aims to address overtourism on select islands. The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, emphasises that this issue is limited to specific destinations.
- The government intends to regulate the simultaneous arrival of cruise ships at certain locations to ease the burden on these islands.
- An increased tax on short-term rentals and restrictions on new licenses in central Athens are being considered to ensure housing availability for residents.
- These interventions align with international efforts, as seen in cities like Venice and Amsterdam, to manage tourism sustainably.
- In 2023, Greece garnered €20 billion in tourism revenues from nearly 31 million visitors, underscoring the economic importance of tourism.
The Greek government, seeking to mitigate issues of overtourism on its most sought-after islands, is proposing a new levy. Specific islands, namely Santorini and Mykonos, have been identified as experiencing significant visitor influx during peak months. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has conveyed that while Greece does not face a widespread overtourism challenge, certain locations are notably impacted, necessitating targeted interventions.
The proposed policy includes a €20 fee per cruise ship passenger during the summer months. This initiative is part of broader economic strategies aimed at enhancing the sustainability of tourism in Greece. Mitsotakis stated: “Greece does not have a structural overtourism problem. Some of its destinations have a significant issue during certain weeks or months of the year, which we have to deal with.”
Alongside the levy, measures to control the number of cruise ships docking simultaneously at certain destinations are being considered. The government aims to alleviate the pressure on local infrastructure and resources, ensuring a more balanced tourism flow across these popular islands.
Further measures include taxing short-term holiday rentals more heavily and restricting new rental licenses in central Athens. By doing so, the government aims to make more housing available to permanent residents, thus addressing some of the socio-economic impacts of tourism.
This strategy resonates with actions taken by other international cities grappling with similar challenges. Venice, for example, has already instituted a €5 tourist tax on day visitors following the ban on large cruise ships in its central canal. Amsterdam is also planning to relocate its cruise terminal out of the city centre by 2035. These measures highlight a growing recognition of the need to manage tourism sustainably.
The proposed levy and additional regulations signify Greece’s commitment to sustainable tourism and infrastructure management.
