The serene islands of Mykonos and Santorini are among the first to take bold steps in tackling the huge issue of overtourism. Just last year, Santorini‘s capital Thira was pictured overrun with eager tourists desperate to capture the island’s famous sunset, which is undoubtedly one of its biggest draws. Queues would form to get to an opening, where people laden with smartphones and selfie sticks would be snapping away.
Likewise Mykonos, first famed as an island for the cosmopolitan celebrities to visit, is now a popular holiday choice for Brits and seemingly finds itself bursting at the seams in peak season. And now authorities on both these islands are clamping down, but only on tourists who arrive on cruise-liners. The bill was passed by Greek parliament just last month ahead of what is predicted to be another busy summer for the islands. The tax is set to be implemented between the months of April and October.
It is often the case that many cruise passengers come for a day, or a short period, before getting back onto the vessel. But these short and sweet visits can see the islands overloaded, which is why new action has been implemented. According to Reuters, visitors stepping onto Greek soil will need to fork out 20 euros, which is the current equivalent of £16.77 in the summer months.
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It is understood a portion of the money received will be reinvested back into the islands to improve infrastructure – which is said to be one of the key areas under strain from overcrowding. The Greek Tourism Confederation claimed around 800 cruise ships arrived in Santorini in 2023, equating to 1.3 million passengers arriving onto the island. Mykonos followed closely behind with 749 vessels mooring, producing 1.2 million tourists. The numbers for 2024 have not yet been released.
According to Forbes, Santorini is not just a popular holiday destination for Brits, but also for Asian tourists who view it as one of the world’s most beautiful places. But with the island only home to 25,000 residents, it’s easy to see why the queues of visitors, masses of coaches, extra dirt and strain on infrastructure can be wearing. The widespread issue of tourist accommodation pricing locals out of homes also remains a problem, with the mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, admitting that millions of visitors are “putting pressure on the outdated infrastructure while pricing islanders out of the housing market.”
Have you been to Mykonos Santorini in peak season? Was it crowded? Let us know in the comments below.
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