Greek Prime Minister Dismisses Over tourism Concerns

Amid the stunning backdrop of Santorini's iconic blue-domed churches, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has downplayed fears of over tourism, emphasizing that Greece faces concentrated tourism rather than an overwhelming influx of visitors. His focus is on enhancing the country's infrastructure to accommodate more tourists and promote more even tourism distribution throughout the year.

Key Highlights:

Concentrated Tourism: Mitsotakis argues that the real issue is not over tourism but concentrated visitor activity in specific locations during peak months.

Most destinations in Greece need more tourists, not fewer, said the country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Tuesday at a conference titled “Reimagine Tourism in Greece,” hosted by the newspaper Kathimerini.

Infrastructure Improvements: The government plans to upgrade infrastructure and implement cruise fees to manage peak seasons, encouraging visits to less crowded areas.

Tourism Revenue Goals: The initiative aims to boost tourism revenue, extend the peak season, and highlight tourism's positive impact on local communities, while avoiding issues similar to those experienced in Barcelona.

Summary:

In a recent conference titled “Reimagine Tourism in Greece,” Mitsotakis asserted that Greece does not suffer from over tourism but rather from concentrated tourism in popular destinations. The government's strategy includes improving infrastructure and introducing fees for cruise passengers to balance tourist distribution across the country. This approach seeks to increase tourism revenues and unlock potential in regions like Athens and Thessaloniki, all while maintaining local support for tourism.

Between January and July of this year, Greece welcomed 14.4 million international air passengers—an 8.2% increase from the previous year—and tourism spending reached approximately $7.5 billion. Mitsotakis acknowledged that some Aegean islands face infrastructure challenges during peak months, stating that enhanced facilities could accommodate more visitors.

To address overcrowding, the government will limit cruise ship arrivals in popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, encouraging alternative stops and expanding the tourism season beyond traditional summer months.

Mitsotakis expressed confidence that Greece would not face protests similar to those in Barcelona, as locals recognize the economic benefits of tourism and do not feel overwhelmed by visitor numbers in many areas. He pointed out that regions such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete still hold significant untapped tourism potential.