Greek island working on tough new rules to keep out tourists

Santorini, a Greek island beloved by UK holidaymakers, is working on new restrictions that could make holidays more challenging - and possibly costlier - reducing tourist numbers. Local authorities on the island have put forward a proposition for new rules that would impose stringent constraints on the construction of hotels and holiday rentals.

The proposed legislation is designed to halt new construction endeavours, with a blanket prohibition on the establishment of new hotels, expansions, and swimming pools. The primary objective of these measures is to preserve the natural beauty of the island, preventing any further alterations.

Speaking to the press, Nikos Zorzos, Santorini's mayor, revealed that he has appealed to the national government seeking action: "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."

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With a population of merely 25,000 locals, the island welcomed an immense footfall of 3.2 million visitors in 2023. Mr Zorzos expressed concerns regarding the island's capacity for sustainable development, warning that continuous building will lead to insurmountable issues including utilities such as water and electricity, "which we have worked hard to get to their present level, and we keep working on".

Concerns over safety on Santorini have escalated, with a landslide in April sparking worries about the island's delicate environment and the caldera slopes' stability. Efthymis Lekkas, head of the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), commented: "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.", reports Bristol Live.

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In response to these concerns, new legislation is being proposed that will require businesses within the caldera area to carry out structural adequacy studies within two years, as reported by the Express. Additionally, local planning authorities are set to reassess all current building permits in the zone before the year's end.

This legislative move follows announcements from Santorini and another top tourist destination, Mykonos, to limit the number of cruise ships permitted to dock. The Greek National Tourism Organisation noted that cruise ship arrivals into Greece and its islands surged to seven million in 2023, a significant increase from 4.38 million in the previous year.