The problems caused by the explosion of tourism in Santorini are extensively covered in a report by the news agency Reuters.
The situation prevailing in the island’s daily life is vividly described in the following text:
Armed with selfie sticks and phones, tourists flood Santorini from all directions – arriving via boats from gigantic cruise ships, on buses zigzagging up the steep slopes of the hills, and on donkeys running through the narrow cobblestone streets.
Some defy the afternoon heat to find a good spot among the whitewashed houses and churches with blue domes, where they then wait for hours to witness the famous sunset of the Greek island.
As the sun sets, many others follow, jostling along the slope or on balconies, cameras at the ready.
But for many of the 20,000 permanent residents of Santorini, the once idyllic island with its picturesque villages and pristine beaches has been devastated by mass tourism.
As protests against excessive tourism erupt in other popular vacation destinations, like Venice and Barcelona, Santorini stands out as one of the most striking examples of how hordes of visitors can impact a place.
The island’s authorities have joined other tourist areas in calling for a cap on visitors.
The report includes statements from the mayor of Santorini Nikos Zorzos, business owners, and tourists.
The Mayor
The increasing number of foreign tourists – around 3.4 million visited the island last year, according to Mayor Nikos Zorzos – is putting pressure on its outdated infrastructure and making affordable housing scarce for residents.
Mr. Zorzos says he has been urging the authorities for years not to allow another bed on the island and has proposed a cap on the number of cruise ship visitors to 8,000 per day, down from about 17,000 currently.
The Business Owners
“Our living standards have declined. It’s that simple,” said George Damigos, who runs a 14-room hotel opened by his parents in the 1980s. “Santorini is a miracle of nature” that risks turning into a “monster,” he said.
“Everything is possible when there is planning and infrastructure,” stated Alexandros Pelekanos, vice president of the island’s Chamber of Commerce. “Do we want money or not? Do we want to have work and revenue or not?” he said. “You can’t have your peace and make money.”
The Tourists
Tourists don’t seem bothered as they cheerfully walk past a sign that reads “RESPECT. It’s your vacation… but it’s our home.”
“It’s hard to walk in the narrow streets, but they are very beautiful,” said Portuguese tourist Rita Kritovao. “I would advise everyone to come.”
Incredible suggestion for… lockdown of residents
It is noted that last Wednesday, the president of the Local Community of Thira, Panos Kavallaris, in a message on social media, urged the residents of Thira to stay at home as tourists were starting to arrive from cruise ships… The message provoked the anger of his fellow citizens (and others), forcing him to retract the post…
Source: tornosnews.gr