In September Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced the introduction of special fees for passengers disembarking from cruise ships at Mykonos, Santorini and some other ports. The fees are part of a broader strategy to manage the resurgence of mass tourism post-covid, reducing some of the negative impacts such as pressure on water supplies, waste management and overcrowding, while spreading the economic benefits more fairly across society. Greece is not alone in considering how to alleviate the tensions arising when exceptional numbers of tourists arrive during peak holiday times. Venice has limited the size of tour groups, charging visitors a daily entry fee and the mayor of Barcelona has pledged to eliminate short-term tourist lets in the city within five years, to ease housing pressures. With revenues from international tourism reaching USD 1.8 trillion last year according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, many governments and experts are thinking carefully about how to strike a balance between the economic boost, the tourist experience and the welfare of local communities. Can tourists be enticed away from those Instagram hot spots and what potential solutions could Greece employ to deal with overtourism? Contributors Katerina Kikilia, Head of Tourism Management, University of West Attica, Athens Sandra Carvão, Director of Market Intelligence, Policies, and Competitiveness, UN World Travel Organisation Kumi Kato, Professor in Tourism Studies, Wakayama University, Japan Cevat Tosun, Eisenhower chair and professor of Tourism Studies and management at George Washington University School of Business Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Production: Diane Richardson and Matt Toulson Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Toby James (Image: Oia, Thira, Greece / Getty Images: Fernando Vazquez Miras)
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Welcome to the Inquiry.
I'm Charmaine cozier.
Each week, one question, four expert witnesses, and an answer.
September 2024 Greece, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, is in a tricky situation.
Each year, millions of tourists head to the same collection of Greek islands, villages, attractions and beaches at the same time.
The problem is a heavy concentration of visitors in some locations is pushing permanent residents and the services they depend on to breaking point.
So there's an urgent need to protect their quality of life from the undesirable aspects of mass tourism.
However, Greece also relies heavily on the industry, which generates billions of dollars a year for its economy.
The government has announced a new range of measures aimed at easing the crisis.
The goal isn't to stop overseas visitors, it's more to even out the flow of tourists, to keep things viable.
So this week we're asking, can Greece fix its over tourism problem?
Part 1 the popularity problem.
Greece is a popular destination, was always a popular destination, firstly for its climate and its natural beauty, together with its culture and its history.
It always attracted big flows of tourists.
Professor Caterina Kikilia heads the Department of Tourism Management at the University of West Attica.
She's based in the capital, Athens.