Greece hints at capping cruise guest numbers in holiday hotspots
The Greek government is looking at restricting cruise ship arrivals as a means to combat overtourism in some of the country’s most popular tourism hotspots.
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to introduce a cap, either in the form of restrictions to island berths or through the introduction of slots, from next year – first in Santorini and then in Mykonos.
“I think we’ll do it next year,” he told Bloomberg. “Santorini is the most sensitive [destination], Mykonos will be second.”
Mitsotakis said large cruise vessels do not contribute as much to the tourist economy, and put significant strain on local infrastructure – while also putting off non-cruise guests.
“Santorini in itself is a problem,” he added. “There are people spending a lot of money to be in Santorini and they don’t want the island to be swamped.”
Cruise passenger arrivals in Santorini increased by 17% year-on-year in 2023, according to national press reports, while Mykonos recorded 749 ship visits last year – up by 23% compared with 2022.
Several cities around Europe, including Venice, Barcelona and Amsterdam, have moved to restrict cruise arrivals to combat overtourism.
Last October, Barcelona mayor Jaume Colboni banned cruise ships from the city’s central docks – Muelle Barcelona Norte and World Trade Centre – while Amsterdam’s authorities sought last summer to curb cruise arrivals.
Local authorities in Venice, meanwhile, have since August 2021 barred ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from entering the city’s Giudecca canal.
TTG has approached the Greek National Tourism Organisation for comment.
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