The Issue of Overdevelopment in Santorini
The picturesque island of Santorini, known for its stunning views and unique architecture, is facing a crisis of overdevelopment. The mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, has raised concerns about the excessive construction taking place on the island, which is reaching unsustainable levels.
Zorzos has highlighted the fact that 20% of the island’s surface is now covered with buildings, surpassing even the urbanized region of Attica. He is calling for a halt to the construction of new hotels and short-term rentals, as well as stricter regulations on building development outside designated zones.
Furthermore, Zorzos is appealing for support in improving the island’s infrastructure, which is struggling to keep up with the rapid and haphazard growth of tourism. He emphasizes the need to protect the interests of serious tourism businesses that contribute significantly to the local economy, as they are being overshadowed by the negative impacts of uncontrolled and low-value tourism development.
The Issue of Overtourism in Santorini
Santorini, a beautiful island in Greece, is currently facing a significant problem with overtourism. This issue is largely due to the influx of cruise ships and day-trippers from neighboring islands like Crete.
The Impact of Mass Tourism
The island is struggling to cope with the massive number of visitors, which includes over 10,000 daily tourists, more than 500 large buses, and 4,000 minibuses and vans. Additionally, the streets are filled with quad bikes, rental vehicles, and residents’ cars, creating chaos in once-peaceful villages such as Oia and Fira.
Challenges Faced by Local Authorities
Unfortunately, resources on the island are limited, making it difficult for the local authority to effectively manage the situation. For example, the maximum fee that can be imposed on cruise ship passengers is just €0.35 per person, a token amount that does little to offset the impact of mass tourism. This fee is collected from port funds by municipalities across Greece.
