Restrictions on cruise ships who visited the most popular Greek islands, the government plans from next year, in a first step to deal with the effects of “hypertourism”.
“I think we will do it next year”Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Bloomberg.
With the new regulations may limit the total number ofof berthing positions on the islands or that there is a competitive process for these positions, according to the prime minister.
as highlights Bloomberg, the stakes for Greece are high, as tourism drives nearly a quarter of the economy, with tourist arrivals and revenues hitting a new post-pandemic record.
THE The country welcomes 32.7 million tourists in 2023, 18% more than in 2022, while the first quarter of 2024 saw an almost 25% increase in arrivals.
Cruises generated €847.4 million in revenue last year, more than doubling the level by 2022.
while the prime minister’s decision may be alarming across the industry, the new restrictions are unlikely to cause a significant blow to the large tourism sector, with ships continuing to visit most of the islands and many cruise lines with as the port of Piraeus, note the report.
The Prime Minister’s comments raised questions about whether large cruise ships offer economic benefits that outweigh their environmental impacts.
Mr. Mitsotakis recognized the problem with the country’s most popular islands. “THE Santorini which in itself is a problem,” he said, talking about the disconnect between the many ships that dock at the island and how much they contribute to the tourism economy. Some tourists may be deterred from visiting Santorini by the cruise ship surchargehe said.
“There is people spend a lot of money to go to Santorini and they don’t want the island to “sink”. Moreover, the island cannot afford it, even in terms of security,” he said.
THE Last year Santorini was the most popular Greek island destination for cruise ships, with 800 ships carrying nearly 1.3 million guests. This is a 17% jump from 2022. The island is home to approximately 15,000 permanent residents.
Between pthe islands that feel the pressure are Mykonoswith 749 cruise ship visits in 2023, up 23% from 2022.
It is noted that Italy is also forced in 2021 to ban large cruise ships from the canal leading to the historic center of Venice. Tourists who do not stay overnight in the city are now charged a toll to enter the center during peak periods.