Greece may become the next European country where island visits come with an entry fee.
Authorities from 34 Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kos, and Paxos, are calling for the introduction of an entrance fee for day visitors. The proposal has already been submitted to the national government and personally addressed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Regional Union of Municipalities of the South Aegean Islands has sent a formal request to the government, asking for permission to charge a symbolic entry fee for one-day tourists, following the example of Venice, where since 2024 visitors have been required to pay €5 per person.
According to local mayors, many small Greek islands are struggling with overtourism.
Thousands of visitors arrive daily by ferries and cruise ships, using local infrastructure — roads, water, sewage systems, and electricity — without contributing to the municipalities’ maintenance costs.
The Mayor of Symi, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, stated that during peak season, up to 5,000 tourists arrive each day from Rhodes, nearby islands, and even Turkey. He proposed an entry fee of €3 per person to help cover the growing expenses of waste management, water supply, and energy.
“We welcome every visitor,” he emphasized, “but we can no longer bear the costs on our own.”
On Santorini, the situation is equally challenging. Every cruise passenger already pays €20, yet there is no regulation for tourists who visit the island for just one day from other destinations. Santorini’s mayor, Nikolaos Zorzos, has suggested limiting the number of day visitors to 8,000 per day in order to preserve the island’s ecological and cultural balance.
Greece is not the only country taking measures to manage overtourism. Venice has already introduced an entry ticket for day-trippers, while Paris and Rome have significantly increased their tourist taxes. Iceland and Scotland are also implementing new environmental levies aimed at protecting nature and local infrastructure.
Across the Mediterranean, the trend is growing stronger. On the Balearic Islands, holidaymakers pay up to €3.50 per night as a tourist tax. Similar systems are in place in Croatia and Cyprus.
Experts note that such measures help balance visitor numbers, improve service quality, and protect natural resources in popular travel destinations. If the South Aegean Islands’ proposal is approved, Greece will become the first country in the region where dozens of islands officially introduce an entrance fee for tourists.
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