Greece has approved plans to start charging certain tourists a fee to visit popular areas, with higher rates for those visiting Santorini and Mykonos.
Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said the new levy, which is set to take effect in 2025, is part of the government’s efforts to reinvest tourism income into local communities. It’s also hoped that charging visitors an entrance fee will help to ease the pressure caused by high volumes of tourists in certain areas, particularly during peak seasons.
The charge will only apply to holidaymakers arriving by cruise ship at Greek ports. The amount travellers have to pay will vary depending on the destination, with the maximum charged to people visiting Santorini and Mykonos at 20 euros per passenger – the equivalent of around £16.80.
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Other Greek ports will see a 5 euro charge applied during the peak season, from June 1 to September 30. In the months of April, May, and October, the levy will be reduced by 40 percent to 12 euros for Santorini and Mykonos or 3 euros for other ports.
From November to March, the fee will be slashed further by 80 percent, bringing it down to 4 euros for Santorini and Mykonos, and to 1 euro for other ports. The funds collected will be distributed to the municipalities where cruise ships dock, as well as the Maritime Ministry to help fund vital port infrastructure projects and the Tourism Ministry to help improve Greece’s overall tourism offering.
However, concerns have already been raised by the Municipal Port Authority in Mykonos that the charge will negatively affect the cruise industry and the local economy. In an open letter to the Greek Prime Minister, the authority said: “The proposed increase risks making Mykonos less competitive as a cruise destination, potentially affecting the local economy.”
The Cruise Lines International Association has also urged the government to delay the roll-out until 2026 to allow for further discussions with cruise operators, ports and other tourism stakeholders to better assess the levy’s impact.
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