Chaos in Greece as locals furious at too many tourists killing off traditions

The island of Santorini is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Greece (Image: Getty)

A Greek local has expressed fears the nation adored by tourists will soon “change dramatically” amid huge visitor numbers. In an opinion piece for a Greek newspaper, Tassoula Karaiskaki painted a concerning picture of how she fears overtourism could leave her country unrecognisable to the one she loves without changes.

While she wrote how tourism has played an important role in Greece's economy – notably during the debt crisis and after the COVID pandemic – she warned: “However, with its [tourism] exponential growth, it tends to become a noose.” She said: “Studies report that the overdevelopment of tourism without strategic planning will gnaw away at – from a point onward – everything that has kept Greece attractive through time.

Greece's rich coastline is one of its biggest draws for visitors (Image: Getty)

“That’s where we are now.

“At the point after which the country will begin to change dramatically,” she wrote in a piece for Kathimerini, headlined: 'Once again, we are wandering without a plan.'

Last year, protests against masstourism and overtourism swept across holiday hotspots in Europe, including Greece, with demonstrations held again this year.

Campaigners have blamed high visitor numbers for issues such as skyrocketing housing prices, increases to the cost of living and excessive crowds.

Ms Karaiskaki wrote: “The historic centres of cities are being swept away by tourism and catering businesses and the constant spread of Airbnbs, which is transforming buildings into pseudo-modern accommodation complexes.

“The islands are being feverishly overdeveloped, exceeding their carrying capacity, overcrowded, with traffic jams, pollution, water shortages, and garbage.”

“Do we want more than 41 million tourists?” she added, seemingly a reference to how Greece welcomed 40.7 million foreign visitors in 2024.

Greece – in particular its islands – is a popular destination for British holidaymakers, visited by 4.5 million UK tourists each year.

Ms Karaiskaki said there is “no direction, no measure” when it comes to tourism, adding there is “only a mass stampede on the road to the glittering accompaniments of immediate wealth”.

In a stark warning, she said: “And the monoculture of tourism is expanding. Other activities and fields continue to be abandoned. Classes of artisans, professionals, producers are being replaced by owners or managers of tourist businesses and their low-paid seasonal employees.

“The social characteristics of small places are changing, they become other entities, personal, dynastic.

“Is this what we want? Destinations without identity, with overworked infrastructure, unlivable for their residents, ultimately repulsive to tourists?”