The American network Bloomberg examines the issue of overtourism in Greece, particularly on the renowned island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea, noting that while Santorini’s iconic whitewashed streets are expected to be flooded with millions of visitors this summer, not all locals are welcoming the surge.
Matthaios Argyros, a winemaker on the island, highlights the negative impact of tourism: “Tourism is damaging our vineyards; I’m sounding the alarm for Santorini.”
His family winery, established in 1903, utilizes a quarter of the island’s vineyards, but faces rising land prices as developers vie for space to build more holiday accommodations.
Over the past two decades, grape production on Santorini has plummeted nearly 50%, with an average annual decline of 2.7%, according to data from the Santorini Wine Producers Association.
Local winemakers warn that without intervention, production could dwindle to zero by 2041, due to water shortages and the migration of workers to the tourism sector.
Bloomberg reports that post-pandemic tourism has surged across Europe, exacerbating issues such as supply shortages, congested roads, and economic disparities in popular destinations like Santorini.
Authorities are grappling with the situation through visitor fees, caps, and occasional bans, though their effectiveness remains limited as a record-breaking tourist season looms.
“This will be a very challenging year for Santorini,” remarks island mayor Nikolaos Zorzos to Bloomberg. He emphasizes the island’s financial inability to support even a single additional accommodation bed, even with improved infrastructure.
The municipality lacks the authority to halt new construction and hotels, urging governmental intervention.
Despite local appeals for restrictions since 2012, Santorini anticipates hosting 3.4 million tourists this summer alone.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledges the issue of overtourism, as highlighted by Bloomberg, recalling plans announced in June to restrict cruise ships to the country’s most popular islands. “I believe we will implement this next year,” Mitsotakis stated in a previous interview.
Bloomberg further notes the government’s efforts to impose limits on short-term rentals in congested areas, encompassing many of the Aegean and Ionian islands’ top destinations.
