Santorini has emerged as yet another city in Europe that has seen a surge in tourist influx since the pandemic. Anticipating millions of visitors this summer, locals in Santorini are not happy with overtourism in their region. The people in the popular Greek island have noticed a spike in agricultural land prices in the area, all thanks to the increasing demand to create more vacation homes for tourists. Here’s everything you need to know about the impact of increasing tourism in Santorini.
Land Prices Surge In Santorini As Tourism Continues To Grow
Have you noticed a surge in people travelling to Europe in the last few years? Well, that’s because there has been a spike in the number of tourists visiting hotspots like Santorini in Europe since the pandemic. This has caused issues like supply problems, economic imbalances, and traffic issues, and locals are not happy with this overtourism, especially in Greece’s Santorini.
As per reports, Santorini is expecting 3.4 million tourists this summer. With a surge in tourism, the locals have observed that the agricultural land prices in Santorini have increased. According to a report in Fortune, winemakers on the island have seen agricultural land prices skyrocket in the last few years. This is because developers are clamouring for space to build more holiday homes in Santorini to accommodate the growing number of tourists.
This has increased the worries of the locals. To limit the number of tourists on the island, the Greek authorities have introduced rules like restricting the total number of island berths. Most recently, they have proposed limiting day-trippers from cruise ships on the island. With their continuous efforts, Santorini’s local authorities have been able to bring down the number of days each cruise ship can visit the islands to 48 days from 63 for this season, Fortune reported. The authorities believe they will be able to bring down the numbers further next year.
Furthermore, the Greek administration has drafted a bill to impose restrictions on short-term leasing in congested areas in the Aegean and the Ionian islands. This bill is currently under public consultation.
Wine Production Affected Due To Overtoursim In Santorini
One of the worst effects of increasing tourism in Santorini is the depleting vineyards in the island. As per the Association of Winemakers of Santorini, production of grapes here has dropped by almost 50% in the last 20 years. This is about a 2.7%, average, drop per year. As per the Fortune report, the island’s winemakers fear that winemaking will almost be extinct in the region by 2041. This is further worsened by water shortages in the region and a decrease in manpower over the years.
We hope that the tourists understand the repercussions of their visit and travel more sustainably. Let us know your two cents on this entire issue in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)