Panic in Greece as popular islands 'stretched to capacity' as locals blast overtourism

Tourists arrive on the island of Santorini (Image: Getty)

Greece's prime minister acknowledged that popular tourist destinations like Santorini and Mykonos are being pushed to their capacity during peak season. 

However, he insisted that the country did not have a problem with overtourism, and that better infrastructure would allow Greece to accommodate even more visitors than it currently gets.

Last year, a record-breaking 33 million tourists visited Greece - over three times the country's population.

This year also looks set to break new records in visitor numbers, with the Bank of Greece saying tourism was up more than 15 percent in the first half of 2024 on last year.

Tourists gather in Oia on Santorini (Image: Getty)

Although the influx of tourists is a massive boon for Greece's tourism sector and overall economy, the ever-growing numbers are causing anger among residents.

Santorini's mayor, Nikos Zorzos, warned in May that overtourism was causing environmental degradation and a loss of local character. 

And in August, speaking about the pressure on the island created by cruise ship arrivals, he told the Guardian: “There have been times when the pressure is unbearable. Everywhere jam-packed with people who have no time to stop, no time to enjoy, who are actually full of angst, because they are so rushed.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece's prime minister, acknowledged the problems some resorts were facing but denied the county faces an overtourism crisis.

During a discussion at the Reimagine Tourism in Greece conference, he said: “Greece does not have an overtourism problem. 

"Rather, it faces the challenge of concentrated tourist activity in specific destinations for a few months of the year.

"In certain Aegean islands, during peak months, the infrastructure is being stretched."

He then added: "With better infrastructure, theoretically, we could accommodate more tourists."

A major driver of tourist numbers in the Cycladic Islands are cruise ships, which can bring thousands of visitor a day.

Last year, Santorini experienced as many as 16,000 to 17,000 cruise passengers on one day alone.

The island has said it wants to reimpose a cap of no more than 8,000 cruise passengers in a single day.

Greece's government is planning to charge a €20 (£17) per person port tax during the peak summer months for passengers arriving both at Santorini and Mykonos.

"A significant part of this specific revenue will return to the local communities,” the Prime Minister promised.

"It is important for them to be better organised, to support their infrastructure against the burden they receive every summer.”