Restrictions on cruise ships who visit the most popular islands of Greece, the government plans from next year, initially, 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 could limit the total number ofberths on the islands or that there be a competitive process for these positions, according to the Prime Minister.
As underlines Bloomberg, the stakes for Greece are high as tourism accounts for around a quarter of the economy, with tourist arrivals and revenues hitting a new post-pandemic record.
THE the country welcomed 32.7 million tourists in 2023, 18% more than in 2022, while the first quarter of 2024 saw an increase in arrivals of almost 25%.
Cruises generated €847.4 million in revenue last year, more than double 2022 levels.
While the Prime Minister’s decision could sound the alarm Across the sector, the new restrictions are unlikely to deal a major blow to the huge tourism sector, with ships continuing to visit most islands and many cruise lines having restrictions. as home port of Piraeus, notes the report.
The prime minister’s comments raise the question of whether very large cruise ships offer economic benefits that outweigh their environmental impacts.
Mr Mitsotakis identified the problem in the country’s most popular islands. “THE Santorini that in itself is a problem,” he said, speaking of the disconnect between the large number of ships docking on the island and their contribution to the tourism economy.. Other tourists might be deterred from visiting Santorini because of the cruise ship surcharge.he said.
“There is people who spend a lot of money to be in Santorini and they don’t want the island to “sink”. Moreover, the island cannot afford it, even in terms of security,” he stressed.
THE Santorini was the most popular island destination in Greece last year for cruise ships, with 800 ships carrying nearly 1.3 million visitors. This is a 17% jump from 2022. The island is home to approximately 15,000 permanent residents.
Between pthe islands feeling the pressure are Mykonoswhich recorded 749 cruise ship visits in 2023, an increase of 23% compared to 2022.
Note that Italy was also forced in 2021 to ban large cruise ships from accessing the canal leading to the historic center of Venice. Tourists who do not stay overnight in the city now have to pay a toll to enter the center during peak periods.