Greece Introduces €20 Tourist Tax for Santorini, Mykonos Visitors

Greece has implemented a new cruise passenger tax targeting visitors to the popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos to address overtourism and support local infrastructure. Starting July 1, cruise passengers will pay €20 (£17.18) during the peak season (June 1 to September 30), decreasing to €12 (£10.31) after September and €4 (£3.44) in the low season (November to March). Other Greek ports like Syros and Symi will have lower fees ranging from €1 to €5 depending on the season. The collected funds will be reinvested in local port and tourism projects to ensure sustainable tourism and benefit the island communities, which face strain from millions of visitors annually. Greek officials emphasize the need for balance between visitor numbers and local capacity, with Mykonos alone hosting about 768 cruise ships and 1.29 million tourists last year. This move follows concerns about increasing tourist pressure post-pandemic and complements other local measures like fines for improper parking in these hotspots.