Santorini to launch major tourism crackdown with strict new rules | World | News
Authorities in Santorini are preparing to implement major changes under a proposed urban planning plan that would significantly tighten building regulations across the island in a bid to address decades of rampant development and increased tourism. If approved, the new framework will increase protected land from 21.8% of the island to 67.3%; This means that more than two-thirds of Santorini will be closed to development.
Tourism development zones will also shrink sharply, falling from 59.8% of the island to just 6.8%; This region is appreciated by holidaymakers for its unique caldera views and whitewashed cliffs. According to the draft plan, new large-scale tourism projects will face tougher restrictions.
The minimum land size required for tourism facilities, including hotels and resorts, will increase to four hectares from the current range of 0.8 to 1.5 hectares. For residential development outside town planning areas, the minimum will double to 0.8 hectares, with some exceptions for smaller properties on tracts built before 1977.
Supporters of the plan argue the changes are vital to halt decades of uncontrolled development, prevent overdevelopment and ease the burden on the island’s infrastructure. The aim is to protect Santorini’s nature, preserve its character and ensure the sustainability of its tourism industry.
But critics warn that the restrictions could hinder new investment, particularly in the hotel and tourism sector, and leave limited development space outside the main cities. Some fear that fewer new hotels will be built, or that only hotels large enough to meet the new minimum size requirement will be built.
Earlier this year, the mayor of Santorini called for a “saturation law” on the Greek island, which receives about 3.4 million visitors a year via flights, ferries and cruise ships.
Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos, who has been striving for sustainable tourism since 2012, emphasized the need for a “saturation law” for Santorini, arguing that the island “does not need more accommodation”. The mayor prefers the term “saturation” to “overtourism”, arguing that while there is discomfort in some areas, Santorini has not reached the severe levels seen elsewhere, such as Spain.
“Santorini does not need any more beds. I say this with great certainty, as surely as I know my name is Nikos,” he said.
Santorini is shifting towards more sustainable and regulated tourism in order to preserve its unique charm and improve the visitor experience. Part of this initiative includes capping cruise ship visitors at 8,000 per day. Under previous rules, up to 17,000 cruise ship visitors were allowed to disembark in a single day; this is much larger than the island’s permanent population of about 15,000.
