U Greece is certainly one of the European destinations most affected by theovertourismespecially in destinations like Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes. Here, local residents increasingly bear the brunt of overcrowding from cruise ships, water shortages, congestion and the pace of construction that is changing the landscape and compromising its sustainability.
That is why, as the summer season approaches, the Greek government presents the new Special Territorial Framework for Tourism. It is a strategic plan whose objective, stated by the Ministers of Tourism and the Environment, is to move from quantitative growth to a development model based on quality and resilienceit protects that Greek identity that the whole world loves, but that risks being suffocated by its own popularity.
Greece is the new geography of tourism
The crux of the reform lies in one cartography of the national territory. For the first time, the Greece is divided into five distinct categorieseach with specific rules of engagement based on human pressure and geographic characteristics:
- High pressure areas: areas where severe restrictions are introduced to curb overtourism.
- Areas with growth potential: in which investment incentives are provided based on strict sustainability criteria.
- Island destinations: territories that will receive specific attention to preserve the unique characteristics of the Greek islands.
- Continental territory: areas dedicated to strengthening forms of alternative tourism.
- Special status areasand: sensitive ecosystems subject to enhanced protection regimes.
In places of high pressure, such as the famous ones Santorini o MykonosSevere restrictions will be introduced to curb uncontrolled expansion. On the contrary, the plan provides significant incentives for areas with growth potentialwhere investments will be guided by strict sustainability criteria.
The strategy also aims to value the hinterlandpromote forms of alternative tourism that can seasonal offerand to establish areas with special status for the protection of the most fragile ecosystems. This approach does not aim to stop development, but to redistribute resources and flows towards less saturated destinations, ensuring that each region can thrive without losing its soul.
The new plan against overtourism
The plan intervenes decisively on two critical fronts: land consumption and the carrying capacity of the islands.
One of the most impactful measures concerns the coastal area, where the absolute ban on construction in the first 25 meters from the coast, without prejudice to projects of public interest. This buffer zone is essential to preserve the integrity of the Greek landscape and protect the coasts from erosion and cementation.
In parallel, the government will introduce a maximum limit of tourist bedscalculated according to the size and resources of each island. It is not a closure, but an act of responsibility: every territory has a limit beyond which the experience of the visitor worsens and the life of the residents becomes unsustainable.
Added to this is a renewed attention to cultural heritagewith specific regulations for the recovery of abandoned villages and the protection of archaeological sites.