Greece to introduce new €20 tourist fee as part of its effort to tackle overtourism

Some of Greece's most popular tourist spots could soon see increased fees, as the Greek Prime Minister pushes to address "overtourism."

Following what’s been dubbed Greece's "worst summer" for overtourism, officials are moving forward with a new €20 (£16) charge on tourists visiting certain crowded areas.

Starting next summer, British visitors will be among those paying this additional fee at high-traffic destinations, including the scenic but heavily visited island of Santorini.

Though Santorini has a local population of only about 20,000, this picturesque Mediterranean island sees over three million visitors each year, putting immense pressure on public resources and affecting local residents.

Across Greece’s sunlit landscapes, similar problems are surfacing, with some areas reporting that up to 40 per cent of homes have been converted into Airbnb rentals, which will now face steeper taxes.

One of Greece’s biggest challenges is the steady arrival of cruise ships, which bring thousands of passengers into these popular spots at peak times.

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis recently addressed this issue, explaining, “Greece doesn’t have an overall overtourism problem… but some destinations face significant crowding during certain weeks, which we need to manage.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that busy locations like Mykonos will also see new charges, aimed at easing the burden caused by large numbers of cruise ship visitors. “The arrival of cruise ships has overwhelmed Santorini and Mykonos, so these measures are necessary.”

Since the pandemic, tourists have been flocking to Europe’s sun-drenched beaches, leading to overcrowding complaints and protests in areas like Spain and Greece.

Although Greece's economy heavily relies on tourism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently outlined his plan to manage these visitor surges as part of a broader economic vision.

This plan includes higher taxes on short-stay Airbnb rentals, which may lead to increased accommodation costs for tourists.

In addition, Mitsotakis is introducing a three-year tax incentive for property owners who convert their rentals into long-term housing, hoping to ease the housing shortage that tourism has worsened.

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