Greece's government has introduced a program aimed at curbing mass tourism in popular tourist destinations following a report by the central bank. The goal is to promote a more sustainable model of tourism with less impact on the environment, beaches, and infrastructure, according to Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni at a press conference. The program was described by Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou as a "historic reform."
The relevant ministerial decree is expected to come into force by the end of June. Regions will be categorized based on the impact of tourism, with popular Greek islands like Rhodes, Kos, Santorini, and Mykonos facing stricter building regulations. New hotels in severely affected island regions will be limited to a maximum of 100 beds.
The government decided on this measure after the central bank reported a record number of tourists who visited Greece last year. Santorini and Mykonos are considered overburdened during the season, with residents complaining about traffic congestion, water shortages, increasing rental prices, and overburdened infrastructure for years.
Building regulations will be stricter, and new hotels outside official construction zones will only be allowed on large properties, ranging from eight to 16 hectares depending on the region. The aim is to prevent unregulated construction along the coastline, with a ban on building within 25 meters of the sea, except for access roads and evacuation routes.
This is a bold move by Greece, but do you think it will actually work? The masses are already there, and the infrastructure is already strained. Maybe it's too little, too late. What do you think?