Greece demands 'no more tourism' and issues warning to UK tourists

Greece has declared "no more tourism" in a warning to UK tourists as a pretty city is overrun with holidaymakers from Britain. Furious protests have broken out in the Greek capital of Athens amid growing outrage over overtourism in the city.

The backlash against tourists has included graffiti disparaging foreigners, protests to "mourn the death" of neighbourhoods, and even vandalism and arson. At one rally last week, protesters chanted: "They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives".

Anna Theodorakis told France24 that she was forced out of the Metaxourgio in Athens. She explained: "I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes. It is very depressing."

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Ms Theodorakis said that the number of Airbnbs was "wiping out the traditional places" and complained that she felt like "a foreigner in my own country". One property developer, Dimitri, who is turning a former warehouse into Airbnbs, admitted the overtourism was damaging the city.

He said: "Eighty percent of this neighborhood are Airbnbs. Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won't want to come." It comes as Brits who had their holidays cut short due to last year's Rhodes wildfires could now bag a free week's holiday on the sun-soaked island.

Greece's tourism authorities are looking to entice people back by offering them a free week's stay on Rhodes, in what's been dubbed the Rodos Week initiative. Tourists who were registered on the evacuations lists are being offered an e-voucher to put towards a stay in a hotel of a similar category as that they stayed in during the fires.

Depending on the category of hotel, you can get between €300-€500 for the entire stay.