Greece | Started to Charge a New Cruise Passenger Tax for Visiting Two of its Most Popular Islands

Greece started to charge a new cruise passenger tax for visiting two of its most popular islands such as Mykonos and Santorini, a move began on 1st July following an initiative by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias which comes as Greece continues to attract millions of cruise visitors each year higlighting the problems linked to that phenomen called overtourism.

The country is grappling with the challenges of overtourism, particularly in popular destinations. The influx of tourists, especially during peak seasons, has led to strains on local resources, infrastructure, and housing contributing to rising costs and impacting the quality of life for residents.

While tourism is vital to the Greek economy, there is a growing recognition of the need to manage visitor numbers and mitigate the negative consequences.

Popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos face shortages of water and other essential resources due to the high number of tourists, especially during peak season.

As part of a law passed in 2024, the charge of €20 per passenger per visit will be applied to the two famous Hellenic islands during the peak summer season, from 1st June to 30 September. This fee drops to €12 during the shoulder season in April, May and October and to €4 during the winter months of November through March.

In other cruise destinations across Greece, charges will range from €1 to €5 per passenger, depending on the time of the year.

The cruise tax applied per visit and per person varies by destination and season, aims to tackle overtourism and support local infrastructure development and passengers. 

According to Greek news outlet iEidiseis, details about how the tax will be collected and which authority will oversee enforcement have yet to be finalised.

Revenue from the tax is expected to reach between €50 million and €100 million annually and the funds will be distributed between local municipalities and the Ministeries of Shipping and Tourism.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokakis said that Greece does not have a structural overtourism Problem. Some of its destinations have a significant issue during certain weeks or months of the year, which the country needs to deal with.

Link
https://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Cruise-Travel/Greece-starts-charging-cruise-taxes-from-July