The bustling streets of Athens, Greece, once known for their rich history and vibrant culture, are now facing serious overtourism where locals can’t even walk.
As millions of visitors flood the city each year, residents are finding themselves increasingly squeezed out of their neighbourhoods and struggling to navigate their daily lives amidst the crowds of tourists.
Marianna Kalpatsoglou, a 44-year-old teacher from Athens, is one of many locals who have been directly affected by the tourism boom.
Once a resident of the historic Acropolis area, Kalpatsoglou found herself pushed out due to the overwhelming presence of tourist buses and car rental businesses that left little room for residents.
“Because of the tourist buses and the car rental businesses, we couldn’t park in the Acropolis area,” she shared with BIRN.
Seeking relief, she moved to the Koukaki district, only to find that over-tourism was still a significant issue there.
“It’s also a big problem in Koukaki,” Kalpatsoglou said, “just not as tragic as in the Acropolis area, where you can’t even walk about as a pedestrian.”
Greece, a nation of around 10 million people, welcomed over 30m foreign visitors last year.
Tourism is a vital part of the Greek economy, contributing an estimated 11.5 percent to the national output.
For nearly a fifth of the population, tourism is their primary source of income.
However, for those not directly benefiting from the influx of tourists, the situation has become increasingly burdensome.
In areas like the Acropolis and Koukaki, over-tourism has led to a significant decline in the quality of life for residents.
The narrow streets, once easy to navigate, are now filled with tourists, leaving little room for those who call Athens home.
Parking has become nearly impossible, and the constant influx of visitors has transformed quiet neighbourhoods into crowded hotspots.
Residents are voicing growing concerns about the strain on the city’s infrastructure and public services.
From overcrowded streets and public transport to the environmental impact and rising living costs, the daily lives of many Athenians are being disrupted.
As the number of visitors continues to climb, questions are being raised about the sustainability of such heavy reliance on tourism and the long-term effects it could have on local communities.
