Greece will cut the number of cruise ships visiting “overcrowded” islands as part of a major crackdown on tourists.
The Balkan country is determined to rid itself of hordes of Instagrammers travelling to summer hotspots, fearing some of its islands will be unable to withstand the pressures of overtourism.
The beautiful Greek island of Santorini is overrun with Instagrammers looking for the perfect selfie. Photo by AlamyThe situation is also worse on Mykonos, where the streets are jammed with tourists. Photo by AlamyThese little paradise islands are oversaturated with tourists, making life difficult for the locals. Photo by GettyThe Greek prime minister is keen to reduce the number of cruise ships visiting Santorini and Mykonos. Photo by Alamy
Greece’s prime minister has declared that popular tourist destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos will be given priority for tourism as they are the most “suffering.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis said plans were currently being implemented to protect the islands and that measures would also be introduced to reduce the number of cruise ships calling at the port.
“I think we’ll do it next year,” he told Bloomberg.
The number of berthing locations and anchorage slots may also be reduced, it added.
Last year, Mykonos received around 750 cruise ships, a staggering 23 percent increase from the previous year.
Known for its summer party atmosphere, sandy beaches and luxury accommodation, the island attracts a steady stream of British and other nationalities every year.
But it’s the slightly smaller island of Santorini that will be most affected by the rise in tourist numbers.
“Santorini is the most sensitive,” Mitsotakis told Bloomberg, “with Mykonos coming in second.”
Greece’s tourism industry played a major role in the country’s economic recovery after a decade of debt.
Tourism currently accounts for about a quarter of the country’s economic output, and since the pandemic began, the country has broken records in tourist visits and spending.
More chilling anti-tourist graffiti reads “Go home” in British holiday hotspot Greece as protests continue across Europe
But the impact of visitors is starting to have a negative impact.
Greece is expected to welcome 32.7 million tourists in 2023, up 18% from the previous year, with visitor numbers growing by around 25% in the first quarter of 2024.
Cheap airfares are probably the biggest reason for the recent surge in tourism numbers, but the influence of social media is also proving to be influential.
The Greek Islands are famous for their beauty, and the main culprits promoting it online are influencers.
As a result, thousands of followers are inspired to experience the beauty of the landscape for themselves.
Santorini in particular is a haven for social media influencers.
Whitewashed terraces and balconies overlooking the stunning surroundings are swarming with selfie-takers desperately trying to capture the perfect sunset shot.
Santorini’s 15,000 residents are beginning to feel the strain from a massive increase in visitor numbers, with an estimated 5.5 million tourists visiting the island each year.
Greece is eager to avoid a new economic crisis at all costs, but Prime Minister Mitsotakis is prepared to cut tourist numbers to protect the islands.
“Santorini itself is a problem,” he said, adding that the huge number of ships calling at the port may not bring justifiable economic benefits.
Why Santorini and Mykonos became so popular
Tom Murray
Santorini and Mykonos are two of Greece’s most popular islands due to their stunning scenery, sandy beaches and ideal locations.
Party lovers from all over the world also flock to the islands for holidays filled with memorable nightlife experiences.
Social media influencers also have a huge impact on visitor numbers to Santorini and Mykonos.
By showing off the best parts of the island to their thousands of followers, they inspire others to visit too.
You can also find cheap flights to both locations, giving Brits and others even more incentive to travel to the upscale destination.
The average summer temperature is around 29 degrees, making it the perfect place to escape the awful weather back home.
Party central Mykonos is popular with the British. Photo: GettyVisitors to both islands love taking photos in the picturesque surroundings. Photo: AlamyPicturesque scenery is in abundance on Santorini. Photo: Alamy
“People who are spending a lot of money to stay on Santorini don’t want the island to be crowded,” Mitsotakis said, “and the island can’t afford that, safety-wise.”
Party-centric Mykonos is expected to record 749 cruise ship visits in 2023, second only to Santorini, an increase of more than 23 percent over 2022.
It comes amid a wave of anti-tourism protests in some of Europe’s most popular holiday spots.
Last month, anti-tourist graffiti appeared in the Greek capital, Athens, amid calls for an end to “over-tourism”.
The sunny mainland city, home to the iconic Parthenon, has seen a rise in harsh graffiti urging tourists to “go home”, similar to that seen across Spain in recent months.
Protests are particularly widespread in Mediterranean countries, with residents of Mallorca and Ibiza sending out strong messages recently.
Local residents have been protesting at beaches across the island against excessive tourism.
Local residents have even threatened to blockade the island’s airport and protest outside hotels.
Activists say mass tourism causes housing shortages, severe environmental damage and lower wages.
Tourist measures sweep hot spots
Menorca and Mallorca are just a few of the European hotspots that have implemented restrictive measures for tourists.
Many popular tourist destinations across the continent are taking measures to prevent unwanted tourists from taking over towns and cities.
Locals feel they can no longer live in the iconic tourist destination as it has become overcrowded, unsafe and unwelcoming.
They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic jams, crowded beaches, closed access roads, ruined beauty spots and too many holidaymakers flocking to the island in what are expected to be record numbers this summer.
In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife, calling for restrictions on holidaymakers after urging Britons to “go home”.
Anti-tourist crowds filled a square in the capital, waving banners including one that read in English: “You enjoy, we suffer.”
Protests also took place around the same time in other popular Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The march was organised under the slogan “The Canary Islands have their limits”.
Hoteliers in Benidorm even admitted they were “very worried” about growing anger among islanders, who labelled the Spanish villas “the virus”.
More recently, the Tourism, Trade, Employment, Culture and Sport Committee has reportedly approved a proposal to reintroduce restrictions on cruise ship access to Palma, the capital of Mallorca.
Politicians are keen to introduce a set of new cruise ship rules on taxation, the environment and the use of less polluting fuel in order to reduce the number of cruise ships coming to the Balearic Islands.
