Greek Islands Mykonos And Santorini Introduce New Seventeen Pound Sustainable Tourism Fee For Cruise Passengers, Know More About It

Friday, July 25, 2025

While astir visitors cognize they’ll look fees to participate definite attractions aliases parts of historical cities, visitors this summertime heading to either of nan must-see Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini mightiness beryllium amazed to spot an other complaint that their wallet wasn’t prepared for — a caller sustainable tourism interest nan Greek authorities has put successful spot for cruise passengers. From July 21, holidaymakers arriving connected cruise ships into these 2 basking spots will each person to put their manus successful their pouch to nan tune of €20 each. It is nan latest measurement successful a wider scheme to reside overtourism successful nan region, particularly successful nan precocious play of nan summertime months.

The interest will use from June 1 to September 30, coinciding pinch nan busiest recreation period. While nan costs whitethorn beryllium an unwelcome astonishment for galore holidaymakers, it is intended to support efforts to mitigate nan biology and infrastructure pressures caused by nan precocious number of visitors. The tourism levy will alteration during nan enarthrosis play (from April 1 to May 31) to €12 (approximately £10.41), and further trim to €4 (around £3.45) from November 1 to March 31.

Additional Fees Apply Across Greek Island Ports

In summation to Mykonos and Santorini, nan different Greek islands ports impacted by nan caller sustainable tourism fees include: Passengers aboard cruises during nan summertime will beryllium deed pinch a interest of €5 (about £4.34) but this complaint will beryllium dramatically trim to €1 (around 87p) during nan wintertime and is expected to emergence to €3 (approximately £2.60) successful early spring. Cruise operators do person to make nan payments via a typical integer level and are besides expected to state and salary nan fees arsenic astatine slightest erstwhile each 3 months.

This has caused outrage, peculiarly among section authorities successful Mykonos. Athanasios Kousathanas-Megas, president of nan Mykonos Port Fund, has dubbed nan taxation a “bad omen” for nan island’s economy. Kousathanas-Megas worried that these other charges would power imaginable holidaymakers successful favour of different cruise companies, particularly from 2026 and beyond, hitting nan section economy, which is limited connected tourism.

Implications for Cruise Operators and Passengers

While nan interest is collected per passenger, cruise operators are nan ones responsible for paying and reporting nan charges, which will beryllium monitored and submitted via an online platform. If immoderate cruise institution fails to comply and make nan payment, nan larboard authorities clasp nan correct to contradict early visits from that cruise vessel to nan Greek islands aliases forestall visitors from disembarking. The authorities intends to guarantee that nan taxation gross is utilized efficaciously to reside nan biology and infrastructural challenges posed by nan influx of tourists.

The preamble of this interest comes astatine a clip erstwhile Greece’s tourism numbers proceed to grow. In 2023, Greece welcomed a grounds 32.7 cardinal world visitors and is expected to scope 35.9 cardinal successful 2024, marking a 14.7% summation complete 2019 and a 9.8% summation from 2023. This surge successful tourism has exacerbated issues specified arsenic overcrowding, strain connected infrastructure, and biology concerns, making nan implementation of this interest a necessity successful nan eyes of Greek authorities.

Tourism successful Santorini and Mykonos: Overcrowding and Environmental Impact

Santorini, successful particular, has go synonymous pinch crowded streets and overcrowded beaches during nan summertime months. With astir 2 cardinal visitors annually, nan land has struggled pinch nan biology effect of wide tourism. Similarly, Mykonos attracts astir 1.5 cardinal visitors each year, creating akin pressures connected nan island’s vulnerable infrastructure. These islands, some iconic for their beautiful landscapes and rich | history, person go a magnet for visitors, peculiarly those arriving by cruise ships.

The sustainable tourism interest intends to easiness immoderate of these pressures by utilizing nan generated gross for projects that heighten nan sustainability of these islands, including improvements to infrastructure, specified arsenic a 2nd larboard for Santorini, and biology efforts for illustration combating wildfires and floods, which person go much predominant successful caller years owed to ambiance change.

Tourism Fees and nan Broader Picture of Overtourism

The interest is portion of Greece’s broader efforts to curb overtourism and create a much balanced attack to tourism, ensuring that some nan situation and section communities are protected. Greece has been 1 of Europe’s astir visited countries, but for illustration galore different celebrated tourer destinations, it faces nan situation of maintaining a patient equilibrium betwixt welcoming visitors and preserving its earthy and taste heritage. The government’s move to present a sustainable tourism interest is simply a portion of a wider inclination seen crossed Europe, arsenic much destinations activity to negociate nan impacts of wide tourism.

Impact connected Local Residents and Travel Plans

In summation to nan tourism fee, concerns person been raised by section residents and businesses astir nan effect of cruise ships connected their regular lives. For example, a societal media station from a Santorini metropolis councillor successful precocious July highlighted nan strain that ample crowds were placing connected nan island. The post, which warned locals to limit their movements owed to nan presence of 17,000 cruise passengers, was met pinch backlash from residents who felt that nan community’s needs were being overlooked successful favour of tourists.

This contention highlights nan complexity of nan rumor of overtourism, wherever nan economical benefits of tourism request to beryllium weighed against nan value of life for section residents and nan biology sustainability of these celebrated destinations.

Conclusion: Balancing Tourism and Sustainability successful Greece

Concluding nan constitution of nan sustainable tourism taxation successful Greece is controversial, but it is simply a basal measurement for dealing pinch nan deteriorating phenomena of overtourism. The money that we make will beryllium to heighten our infrastructure, and to besides effectuate biology projects that will use nan residents and visitors.” The caller fees are 1 much point for visitors to support successful mind erstwhile deciding whether to sojourn Greece’s favourite islands. While nan state enjoys a roar successful tourism, it must besides activity retired really to reconcile nan upsurge successful visitors pinch nan conservation of nan unsocial landscapes colony and so culture– that toggle shape Greece into 1 of nan world’s favourite destinations.

If you’re reasoning astir visiting Santorini, Mykonos and different Greek islands, you request to enactment connected apical of nan changing tourism picture. Being alert of nan costs and logistics of nan caller tourism interest tin thief make for a smoother, much responsible recreation experience.