In an attempt to curb the impact of over-tourism on one of Greece’s most-visited islands, Santorini, the Environment Ministry of the Greek Government has introduced draft legislation which could see the implementation of strict building restrictions on hotels and holiday lets within the island’s iconic caldera zone.
Currently under public consultation, the proposed law seeks to halt new construction projects, including a ban on new hotels, building extensions and swimming pools.
It aims to halt any new infrastructure which could modify the island’s natural character, amid local authorities campaigns to protect and preserve the traditional landscape and beauty of the island.
Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of Santorini, who had previously raised concerns about the island seemingly only being developed for tourists, told the Greek Reporter that he had requested the government to “halt the construction of all types of hotel units, short-term rentals, and especially strategic investments, not only for the caldera but for the entire island of Santorini.”
Home to just 25,000 permanent residents, the island was invaded by a staggering 3.2 million tourists in 2023.
Zorzos argued that the island could only support a certain amount of construction, and “When the needs keep increasing, new consecutive problems will build up which we won’t be able to resolve,” including water and electricity, “which we have worked hard to get to their present level, and we keep working on.”
There are also concerns over safety on Santorini, with a landslide in April raising concerns about the island’s fragile landscape and the stability of the caldera’s slopes.
Efthymis Lekkas, president of the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), said: “This year, after the landslide in April, meetings of the intergovernmental committee were held specifically for Santorini, and, next, the issue of the stability of the slopes of the caldera was examined.”
Under the proposed legislation, businesses operating within the caldera will be required to conduct structural adequacy studies within a two-year deadline.
Local planning authorities will also be expected to review all existing building permits in the zone by the end of this year.
The proposed law has not been met with unanimous approval, however. Some have raised concerns that the legislation would have a detrimental effect on the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism.
This new legislation comes after Santorini, along with another hugely popular hotspot, Mykonos, announced plans to cap the number of cruise ships able to dock in an attempt to get a hold of the influx of tourists which arrive during the day.
According to the Greek National Tourism Organisation, seven million people travelled into Greece and its islands via cruise ship in 2023, compared to 4.38 million the previous year.
