The Municipality of Athens will be presenting the results of a tourism carrying capacity report at the end of the month as part of efforts to assess the impact of tourism on the Greek capital.
According to a To Vima exclusive, tourism stakeholders and Athens authorities will have to adapt policies and regulations before overtourism becomes a problem.
Key conclusions of the study, revealed to To Vima, include regulating short-term rental activity, which in many cases is changing the identity and functionality of several city districts; decongesting neighborhoods in Athens already facing increasing tourist flows; and redirecting travelers to new areas.
Indicatively, in 2023, there were 781 Airbnb-style rentals on offer in the popular district of Plaka, marking an 11.4% rise from 2018 to 2023. Main areas impacted include the commercial center of Athens, where hotel accommodation increased by 118.8% from 2018 to 2023 and the number of hotels went from 16 to 35, To Vima reports.
Another challenge facing Athens is the lack of long-term housing options, which in many cases is a result of increased short-term rental activity.
Solutions cited include decentralizing tourist accommodation facilities and dispersing tourism activity to other parts of wider Athens. The study’s analysts also suggest setting up a control mechanism or imposing measures and restrictions.
