Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced measures aimed at addressing the negative impact of overtourism as visitors continue to arrive in record numbers in the post-pandemic era. The government has been “very concerned” about an influx of cruise passengers during certain months of the year and will begin charging fees, Mitsotakis said Saturday during his annual speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair. It will also increase a tax related to the climate-crisis on accommodation.
Greece received a record 36.1 million visitors in 2023, while arrivals rose 16% to 11.6 million in the first half of 2024, according to the latest data from the Bank of Greece.
The tourism sector contributes about 20% to the economy, making it vital to the health of the nation. The country will also expand its so-called “Golden Visa” program to investors who are willing to put at least €250,000 ($277,000) into local startups. Foreigners were previously required to buy property to acquire the visa.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) All passengers arriving at Greek ports will pay a fee, and the charge will be greater in the popular tourism islands of Santorini and Mykonos . A lodging tax for the April-to-October period also will be increased, with revenue benefiting local communities. You Might Also Like: Schengen visas get costlier by 12% after European Union hikes fee Mitsotakis reiterated concern that parts of Greece face the problem of “overtouris.