Athens mayor promises to restrict tourism in the city center — The Guardian
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has announced plans to introduce restrictions to reduce the flow of tourists in the city’s historic center.
He said this in an interview with The Guardian.
According to him, the tourism boom threatens to overcrowd central districts and cause them to lose their authenticity.
“Athens cannot function as a giant hotel. Clear rules and restrictions are needed,” Doukas noted.
Last year, more than 8 million tourists visited the Greek capital—a record number. In particular, in the Plaka district, the number of overnight stays in the short-term rental segment has more than doubled since 2018.
The mayor plans to initiate a complete ban on new tourism businesses in the city center, including hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals.
He also proposes freezing the issuance of permits for new hotel construction and directing investors to less crowded areas of the city.
Starting in 2027, Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained this decision by citing the harm caused by prolonged screen time and the pressure exerted by the online environment.
Greece plans to join an international agreement to establish a special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
