Greece warns 'no more UK tourists' as residents rage at 'overtourism' amid 'huge crisis'
dailyrecord.co.ukLocals in Greece are up in arms over the perceived "overtourism" by Brits. Shop fronts in Athens have been defaced with graffiti reading: "No more tourism," as a wave of unease also sweeps across Spanish holiday hotspots - from Lanzarote and Tenerife to Majorca.Katerina Kikilia, Professor of Tourism Management at the University of West Attica, told Euronews : "We need rules.
Athenians face daily social and environmental impacts. The housing crisis is huge."Athens played host to over 7 million tourists in 2023.Tourism experts are forecasting a 20 per cent surge this year, making the once-deserted August streets a thing of the past. "Once a beautiful neighbourhood, it's now a hub for short-term rentals, no families and no schoolchildren," Katerina lamented. "Each visitor brings €0.40 to the city, and we haven't seen this money yet," Mayor Harris Doukas told Euronews. "We need sustainable tourism that doesn't exacerbate city inequalities.", reports Birmingham Live.
Doukas has announced a study into tourism capacity to establish the city's limits and collect data on short-term rentals and hotels."The socio-cultural impact in urban areas is significant, tourists are displacing long-term residents and altering the character of the neighbourhoods.
The housing issue has become explosive," stated the Ombudsman in a report on sustainable tourism.Rental prices have soared, particularly in areas close to metro stops favoured by tourists.
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