Greek island popular with Brits could soon ban tourists under new rules

Iconic blue domed churches in Oia Santorini Greece
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images/Flickr RF)


Visitors planning a getaway to the idyllic Greek island of Santorini could find themselves facing tougher regulations as the local community rallies against over-tourism.

Santorini, known for its stunning scenery, has been grappling with tourism pressures and resident complaints about overcrowding have prompted authorities to consider strict new rules.

The Greek government has floated a draft law that would see the implementation of stringent building controls within the island's picturesque caldera area, reports the Mirror.

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The legislation, which is still in the public feedback phase, proposes to cut off any new development ventures, prohibiting the construction of additional hotels, extensions, and even swimming pools. This move is part of a broader effort to protect Santorini's unique charm and countryside from being significantly altered by ongoing tourist-driven development.

Concerned about the negative impact on the island's character and aesthetics, Santorini's mayor Nikos Zorzos has actively appealed to the national government. He has publicly articulated his stance to local news outlets, seeking to "halt the construction of all types of hotel units, short-term rentals, and especially strategic investments, not only for the caldera but for the entire island of Santorini."

Santorini's local chief, Mr. Zorzos, has raised a flag over the island's burgeoning tourist numbers and the escalating pressures they pose on the infrastructure. In 2023 alone, despite only having 25,000 permanent residents, the Greek island was overwhelmed by an astonishing 3.2 million tourists.

Urging for restraint in development, Mr. Zorzos highlighted that "when the needs keep increasing, new consecutive problems will build up which we won't be able to resolve," pinpointing specific areas such as water and electricity provision which are crucial for the island's welfare and are continuously being improved.

Safety concerns have also been making waves on the island, especially after a landslide in April put the spotlight on Santorini's delicate environmental balance and the security of the caldera's slopes. Efthymis Lekkas, head of Greeces Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization, remarked on the seriousness of the situation: "This year, after the landslide in April, meetings of the intergovernmental committee were held specifically for Santorini, and, next, the issue of the stability of the slopes of the caldera was examined."

In response, a tough piece of legislation has been proposed demanding businesses within the caldera's boundaries complete structural adequacy reports within two years, as reported by the Express. Furthermore, local officials must re-evaluate all building permits within this precarious zone by the close of the current year.

Despite the intended safeguarding measures, not everyone is embracing the proposal warmly, with some fearing the negative implications it could inflict on the island's tourism-dependent economy.

New laws have been introduced following the announcement by Santorini and Mykonos, two of Greece's most popular tourist destinations, to limit the number of cruise ships docking each day. This move is aimed at managing the surge in daytime tourists.

As per the Greek National Tourism Organisation, a staggering seven million people arrived in Greece and its islands via cruise ship in 2023, a significant increase from the 4.38 million recorded the previous year.