Greece Restricts Hotel Construction in Santorini to Combat Overtourism

Greece's Minister of Tourism said, in a written interview with Kyodo News, that Athens has prepared new guidelines to curb overtourism and regulate development in popular destinations. She added that the goal is "organized tourism development" that takes into account the environment and the lives of local residents.

Greece recorded a record number of foreign visitors, reaching nearly 43 million people in 2025, while the island of Santorini suffers from a massive influx of tourists in the summer. The island is one of the most famous destinations in the Aegean Sea, placing pressure on local infrastructure and services.

The spatial planning plan for tourism approved by the government this year defined zones based on the scale of tourism impact. In Santorini and similar areas, new hotel capacity was restricted to a maximum of 100 beds, and construction near coastlines was generally banned.

Greece also imposed a fee on cruise ship passengers of up to 20 euros per person, aimed at funding environmental protection and infrastructure. The minister emphasized the importance of distributing tourists across different regions to ease pressure on the most congested destinations.

What do these terms mean?

Overtourism: An increase in tourist numbers at a destination to a level that harms the environment, residents' quality of life, and infrastructure.

Hotel Capacity: The number of beds or rooms available in hotels to accommodate guests.

Cruise Passenger Tax: A fee paid by every passenger aboard a cruise ship upon entering a specific destination, often used to fund infrastructure and environmental protection.