Greece to Impose 20-euro Tax on Visitors to Two Islands to Curb Overcrowding

Greece plans to impose a 20-euro tax on visitors to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos during the peak summer season, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday, in a bid to curb the arrival of too many tourists.

Greece relies heavily on tourism, the main driver of the economy as the country recovers from a decade-long crisis that wiped out a quarter of its gross domestic product (GDP).

Yet, some of its most popular destinations, including Santorini, home to about 20,000 people, have been hit hard by overcrowding.

Mitsotakis said, at a news conference, that over-tourism was only a problem in a handful of destinations.

“Greece doesn’t have a structural problem with over-tourism… Some of our destinations have a big problem during certain weeks or months of the year, which we need to address,” he said.

“Santorini and Mykonos have been overburdened by cruises, which is why we are moving forward with our interventions,” he added, announcing the tax.

Greece’s tourism sector generated around €20 billion in revenue in 2023, with around 31 million tourists visiting the country.