Residents of the Greek island of Mykonos have complained about the extreme popularity of the island among tourists. According to The Guardian, they believe that the popularity of bloggers and celebrities who come to the island for gourmet restaurants, champagne, and boutiques, deprives the island of identity, and the infrastructure cannot cope with the flow of tourists.
“We’re lost. Mistakes have been made. We all contributed to them,” farmer Nikos Zuganelis told the publication.
According to the publication, Mykonos was discovered in the 1950s by tourists who came to the neighboring island of Delos. Today, the tourist infrastructure – restaurants and boutiques – is developing on the island so rapidly that residents suffer from it.
“Our island is overcrowded, it has exceeded its limits. Our natural habitat has been destroyed, our water supply and sewage systems are failing, not to mention that the reputation of the party island has become a threat to our way of life,” said Maria Apostolou, director of the local folklore museum.
She explained that Mykonos is not only about “an eclectic menu and nightlife”.
“We have orders and traditions that we also need to get acquainted with. Any further so-called development on the part of foreign investors will not only increase the pressure but will lead to complete degradation,” the resident of Mykonos suggested.
According to the publication, in July this year, in just one week, the number of tourists on the island amounted to 220 thousand people, even though 30 thousand employees are employed in the industry.