Greece
is set to introduce a new tax for cruise ship passengers visiting the popular
islands of Santorini and Mykonos during the summer’s peak season, in an effort
to mitigate the effects of overtourism.
The €20 ($22) visitor
tax was announced on Sunday by Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who
emphasized the need to address the strain mass tourism has placed on these
iconic destinations.
Having first
presented his primary economic policies for 2025, Mitsotakis explained during a
press conference that, “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 need to deal with.”
Among these,
Santorini and Mykonos, two of Greece’s most sought-after islands, have been
contending with an overwhelming number visitors, especially coming from cruise
ships. "Cruise shipping has burdened Santorini and Mykonos, and this is
why we are proceeding with interventions," he stated.
Tourism plays a
critical role in the Greek economy, which has been gradually recovering from a
financial crisis that’s severely impacted the nation over the past decade. In
2023, the year’s 31 million tourists generated approximately €20 billion ($22
billion) for the Mediterranean nation.
Santorini, known
for its stunning sunsets, unspoiled beaches and dramatic cliffsides covered in
quaint whitewashed buildings, is home to around 20,000 permanent residents. But,
when hordes of tourists descend during peak vacation season, the island is
overrun by visitors and risks eventual ruin.
As in other
popular European
destinations, such as Venice
and Barcelona,
locals have begun protesting in favor of placing restrictions on tourism to
combat its detrimental effects.
According to Reuters,
a portion of the proceeds from the new tax will be routed to local communities
to improve infrastructure, to help the islands better cope with the demands of mass
tourism.
In addition to the
new levy, the Greek government plans to regulate the number of cruise ships that
are allowed to dock in certain destinations at one time. Mitsotakis also said
that environmental measures will also need to be introduced and water shortages
on the islands addressed.
The prime minister
said on Saturday that he will propose taxing short-term rental properties and
banning the issuance of new licenses for such properties in central Athens. These
policy changes would aim to alleviate housing shortages for permanent residents.
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