Santorini Hoteliers Association President Antonis Pagonis, speaking to British media Express, argued that the visitor congestion on the Cycladic island of Santorini, often attributed to overtourism, is actually the result of the lack of proper infrastructure.
Pagonis noted that “the use of the word ‘overtourism’ in our case is completely wrong and mainly misleading and dangerous, because it creates a false impression that Santorini is constantly overwhelmed everywhere by crowds, which is not the case.”
Santorini is one of the most popular Greek islands known for its picture-perfect sunsets or unique volcanic beaches. Pagonis noted that “We, as hoteliers of a welcoming island, say yes to any form of tourist activity, but obviously with limits.”
Pagonis noted that, “This overcrowding that occurs in specific places, specific and limited periods of time on our island, is due to the lack of infrastructure, something that the competent services should see and improve immediately.”
He specifically commented on the hundreds of cruise ships that visit the island each year. Specifically, 800 cruise ships carrying 1.3 million passengers docked in Santorini in 2023.
He expressed his support of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ announcement to impose restrictions on cruise ships visiting the country’s most popular islands, including Santorini, commenting that it echoed the hoteliers’ call for new infrastructure and better organization to deal with the incoming tourists.
