Tourists swarm the Greek island of Santorini. Locals wish to
curb visits.
Greece has
seen an increase in tourism, but many residents are not entirely content with
the flood of tourists. In particular, curious travelers are traveling to
Santorini, which is located approximately 297 miles south of Athens, in order
to witness the island's breathtaking natural beauty. According
to Visit Greece, a government tourism website, Santorini, one of the
most well-known islands in the world, is actually a group of islands in the
southernmost portion of the Cyclades: Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea, and
Nea Kameni. According to the website, guests can savor regional cuisine,
beverages, or coffee while admiring the view of an active volcano.
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Residents of
Santorini advocate against mass tourism While Santorini is a well-liked tourist
destination due to its picture-perfect scenery, some residents would like to
see an end to the excessive travel. Every day, throngs of people congregate to
capture the stunning sunsets on the island through selfies and photos.
"This has been my dream since high school," 40-year-old American
visitor Maria Tavarez told Reuters. But for a large number of the 20,000
permanent residents of Santorini, mass tourism has destroyed their once perfect
island of little villages and unspoiled beaches.
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As
demonstrations against overtourism spring up in other well-known vacation
spots, such as Venice and Barcelona, Santorini stands as one of the clearest
illustrations of the devastation that large numbers of tourists can cause to a
location. The island's authorities are seeking for a cap on visitors, joining
the ranks of other popular tourist destinations.
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LAST YEAR TOURISM REPORT Greece is expected to surpass the 33 million
tourists that visited the country in 2023 and set a new tourism record in
2024. The Bank of Greece reports that inbound travel increased by 20% between
January and May, while total tourism receipts increased by 16%. According to Mayor Nikos Zorzos, Santorini saw
almost 3.4 million international visitors last year, which is putting strain
on the island's antiquated infrastructure and driving inhabitants out of the
housing market. Zorzos claims he has been pressuring the authorities for
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forbid the use of any additional beds on the
island and to limit the number of cruise ship passengers to 8,000 per day, as
opposed to the current level of about 17,000 passengers.
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