New rules have been introduced restricting cruise tourism to the islands
Last year, a record 33 million people visited Greece, and in the first half of 2024 their number increased by another 15.5%. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that cruises become a heavy burden for many Greek islands during the summer season: “Greece as a whole does not suffer from overturism, however, individual islands First of all, Santorini and Mykonos are experiencing serious congestion,” he said in his annual speech on the state of the country’s economy. Now Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that the new measures include a proportional levy on cruise passengers and will impose restrictions on the number of cruise liners allowed to dock at popular destinations at the same time. According to the local edition of Greek Travel Pages, Mitsotakis announced these steps during his speech at the International Fair in Thessaloniki. The proportional fee for cruise ship passengers is aimed at reducing the burden on islands such as Mykonos and Santorini due to excessive tourism. According to the Prime Minister, during the high season, a fee of 20 euros (396 rand) per passenger will be charged on two islands, and lower fees will be applied in other ports, depending on tourist demand. Currently, the fee for a gathering, for example, in Santorini is only 35 cents, but it will be increased to 20 euros. This step is aimed at reducing overcrowding during peak months when the infrastructure is running at its limit. Mitsotakis stressed that the collection will vary depending on the popularity and seasonality of the destination. “This is a necessary step to help communities cope with the growing number of visitors, while ensuring that the infrastructure can support them. Some of the proceeds will be reinvested in local projects to help offset the pressure that tourism is putting on these small island communities,” Mitsotakis said. The restriction on the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at the same time is aimed at ensuring that tourists who pay high prices for a long stay do not suffer from a large number of one-day visitors. This is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of travel services. He stressed that although cruise tourism generates significant revenue, it also creates problems for some destinations. “Our goal is not just to increase the number of arrivals, but also to increase revenue. Fewer tourists who spend more would be better for the sustainability of these destinations.” “It is important to preserve the charm and impressions that make these places special, as well as to ensure the support of local communities and the strengthening of infrastructure.” There are other problems. Foreign tourists rent accommodation on the islands en masse for the summer, as a result, prices here have reached a level that locals simply cannot afford. The government will also increase the accommodation tax levied on hotels and apartments rented by tourists on the islands, and the funds received will go to help local communities during the peak season. According to Mitsotakis, property owners offering long-term rather than short-term rentals will, on the contrary, be exempt from paying rent tax for three years. The Prime Minister also announced plans to impose restrictions on uncontrolled construction on the most overpopulated islands, where the infrastructure is actually “bursting at the seams.” So, due to the rapid construction of villas and cottages on many islands, there are problems with water. According to The New York Times, a 20 percent increase in the number of cruise tourists is expected in Greece this year. Santorini, with its volcanic beaches and impressive caldera, is the most popular cruise destination in Greece. Last year, according to the Greek Ports Association, 1.3 million cruise tourists visited here. Santorini is home to only 15.5 thousand people, and the authorities are doing everything possible to ensure that the number of visitors per day does not exceed 8 thousand, but on days of simultaneous entry of several liners, the flow inevitably doubles and more. The situation is even more complicated on very small islands. For example, the mayor of Serifos Island decided to speak out against cruise liners after 2 thousand cruise passengers landed on his island with a population of 1 thousand people at the same time.
