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The Greek PM is considering stepping in to curb the volume of selfie-snapping visitors. at the site of one of the world's most incredible sunsets.
By Max Parry, News Reporter
06:00, Sat, Jul 27, 2024
Grim pictures have revealed the impact of overtourism at a beauty spot in Greece - as the site of Europe's "most beautiful sunset" has been ruined, locals and tourists fear.
Greek authorities are considering slapping restrictions on the annual number of cruise arrivals on their famous islands.
Last month, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said "I think we’ll do it next year" in reference to a plan to curb "over-tourism".
Despite tourism accounting for around 25 percent of the country's total economic output, Greek people appear to have had enough of the swarms of camera-wielding visitors clogging up their islands.
This move against holidaymakers comes as locals in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and the Balearics have taken to the streets to protest the rampant rise in tourism post-Covid.
The demonstrations in Spain have certainly made some Brits feel less than welcome, however images of the Greek island of Santorini suggest that disgruntled residents there may have a point when it comes to claims of over-tourism.
Mobs of tourists take pictures of the sunset at a well-known beauty spot in the village of Oia on the Greek island of Santorini.
A cruise liner, likely to be carrying more tourists, passes by in the background.
Santorini has only 15,000 permanent residents but attracts a staggering two million visitors a year.
(Image: Getty)
A man and a woman are seen posing for a snap using a selfie stick, as swarms of other tourists battle for prime position.
Earlier this year, local mayor Nikoz Zorzos said: “It’s going to be a very bad year for Santorini."
He added that the island can afford “not one single bed more”.
(Image: Getty)
Tourists snake up a hill in Oia, Santorini, to capture the sunset.
Cruise arrivals to the island alone brought 1.3 million visitors last year, according to the Hellenic Ports Association.
Mykonos meanwhile saw a 23 percent increase, making it the second most popular island after Santorini.
(Image: Getty)
Speaking to Bloomberg, the Greek prime minister warned that Santorini cannot cope with the influx of holidaymakers rolling off each and every cruise.
“Santorini in itself is a problem,” he said last month.
He added that tourists will soon be put off coming to island on the assumption it will be overrun.
“There are people spending a lot of money to be on Santorini and they don’t want the island to be swamped,” he added.
(Image: Getty)
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The Greek PM told Bloomberg "I think we’ll do it next year", referencing a cap on cruise ship arrivals.
The new rules would see a hard cap on the number of cruises docking, or a bidding system introduced.
(Image: Getty)
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