While some European countries are introducing restrictions and taxes to combat the influx of tourists, Greece is trying to attract “foreign tourists.” In a bold statement that could turn into a scandal, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged vacationers to reconsider their plans to holiday in Spain and instead take a closer look at Greek resorts.
According to him, Greece does not face the problem of overcrowding with tourists and is ready to welcome even more guests. “Greece does not have an overtourism problem. Rather, we face a concentration of tourist activity in certain places during a few months of the year,” Mitsotakis said at the “Rethinking Tourism in Greece” conference. He emphasized that the country could comfortably accommodate more tourists with improved infrastructure.
Moreover, the Prime Minister stressed that Greece prioritizes quality over quantity in tourism: “The question is not whether we want more tourists, but whether we want tourists who will spend more in our country.” Mitsotakis also added that Greece aims to break records in tourism revenues while focusing on its impact on the country’s development.
Additionally, he swiped at Spain, pointing out that protests against overtourism took place there this summer. “I don’t think we will see such incidents here,” said the official, clearly hinting at more effective management of tourist flows in Greece. For example, recently in the Spanish city of Lanzarote on the Canary Islands, a group protesting against tourism stormed a hotel and began washing kitchen towels in the pool in front of shocked tourists.
However, Greece also has its unresolved issues. For example, there are traditionally many tourists on the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. To limit the tourist flow during peak months and generate additional revenue, the Greek government introduced a tourist fee of 20 euros. Part of these funds is intended to be used to develop local infrastructure to improve conditions for tourists and residents.