Greek Island Santorini, Popular with Irish Tourists, Issues Warning as Imminent Construction Ban Aims to Curb Over-Tourism

Irish tourists planning trips to the Greek island of Santorini may soon face new measures designed to limit the impact of over-tourism.

Local authorities, concerned about the overwhelming number of visitors, have proposed draft legislation to restrict new construction projects, particularly in the island’s iconic caldera zone.

Residents have long expressed concerns that Santorini has reached its limit in terms of tourism capacity.

The Greek government is now responding with plans that include halting new hotel developments, banning building extensions, and prohibiting the construction of new swimming pools. The legislation is currently under public consultation and aims to protect the island’s natural character, following campaigns by locals to preserve Santorini’s traditional landscape.

Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of Santorini, has been vocal about the issue, advocating for measures that would limit construction not only in the caldera but across the entire island.

He explained to local media that he had requested the government to “halt the construction of all hotel units, short-term rentals, and especially strategic investments.”

Santorini, home to just 25,000 permanent residents, saw a staggering 3.2 million tourists in 2023.

Mr. Zorzos emphasised that the island’s infrastructure, including its water and electricity supplies, is under immense strain and cannot support indefinite development.

He warned that continuous growth could lead to problems beyond the island’s capacity to resolve.

Safety is also a significant concern on the island, following a landslide in April that raised questions about the stability of the caldera’s slopes.

Efthymis Lekkas, president of the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), said the incident prompted intergovernmental meetings to address the area’s stability.

The proposed law would require businesses operating in the caldera zone to conduct structural adequacy studies within two years.

Local planning authorities are also expected to review all existing building permits in the area by the end of this year.

While the draft law aims to safeguard Santorini’s landscape, not all parties support it. Some worry that such restrictions could harm the local economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism.

This new legislation follows efforts by Santorini and Mykonos to limit the number of cruise ships docking at their ports, part of a broader attempt to manage the influx of tourists arriving each day.

In 2023, seven million tourists visited Greece and its islands by cruise ship, a significant increase from the 4.38 million recorded the previous year, according to the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

These measures are seen as necessary steps to balance the island’s economic reliance on tourism with the need to protect its environment and ensure safety for both residents and visitors.