Greece has officially announced the implementation of a new tourist tax, which will require holidaymakers to pay an additional fee. The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, confirmed the introduction of a 20 euros levy (approximately £17) for visitors to popular destinations such as the islands of Santorini and Mykonos who arrive by cruise ship. The purpose of the tax is to mitigate the impact of tourism on these specific locations. Mitsotakis stated that while Greece does not have a systemic issue with overtourism, certain destinations face challenges during peak periods that need addressing.
With 31 million tourists visiting Greece in 2023 and generating 20 billion euros for the country, the new tourist tax is set to commence in 2025. The revenue collected from this levy will be reinvested to support local communities. In addition to the tourist tax, measures to tackle overtourism include restrictions on the number of cruise ships visiting, limitations on new holiday rentals, and the implementation of taxes on holiday accommodations like flats, homes, and villas.
The move by Greece follows similar actions taken by other countries like Italy to manage the impact of tourism in popular destinations. Protest against overtourism in Santorini has been noted, resembling sentiments seen in parts of Spain. The aim is for the tax to safeguard the sustainability of Greece’s tourism industry by addressing specific challenges faced by high-demand locations during certain periods.