Balancing Tourism Surge and Heritage Preservation: Challenges at Greece's Acropolis

In May, the Acropolis in Greece welcomed a staggering 14,000 visitors, marking a significant increase of about 70 percent compared to 2022, as reported by the Greek state organization responsible for managing cultural resources (ODAP).

According to ODAP chairman Ilias Patsarouhas, the average daily visits from April onward were on par with the bustling tourist season in August, which is traditionally considered the peak of Greece's tourism.

Tourism numbers in Greece are steadily rising, approaching pre-pandemic levels, as the world witnesses a resurgence in leisure travel demand. This trend has been further amplified by an earlier start to the tourist season compared to previous years.

Even with the convenience of an online "fast pass," visitors like Kutek and her family still experienced a waiting time of approximately 15 minutes before entering the Acropolis. She expressed her concern about the bottleneck at the top, where visitors had to converge into a single line, leading to potential separation from their companions.

World Heritage Watch, a non-governmental organization supporting UNESCO in the protection and preservation of globally significant sites, highlights that the Acropolis lacks visitor management plans mandated by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, to which Greece is a signatory.

Two years ago, controversy arose when Greece's culture ministry approved restoration work at the Acropolis that involved the construction of a new concrete walkway. The ministry justified the redesign by citing improved wheelchair accessibility and a reduction in accidents.

To alleviate overcrowding, the ministry is now planning to implement a time slot system, gradually introducing it by the end of June. However, site guards express concerns that introducing this new system midway through the season will only complicate their already challenging tasks.

Greece sees tourism as a vital driver for its economy, particularly after the near-decade-long debt crisis it faced. Government officials are hopeful of surpassing the record 31.3 million arrivals achieved in 2019, aiming for a strong rebound in the tourism sector.