Tourism Armageddon: 11,000 Tourists Arrive in One Day on the Small Greek Island of Santorini

In one day, 11,000 tourists from cruise ships arrived at the small Greek island of Santorini.  Local authorities have ordered residents to stay at home so that ‘tourists can roam freely’ through the streets.  Panagiotis Kavallaris, president of the municipal community of Thira in Santorini, called on residents on social media to limit their movements due to the huge surge in tourist traffic on the beautiful Greek island. The post was later deleted, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

The post attracted widespread attention and criticism. Some suggested that residents were being denied access to the benefits of tourism. LIFO, a popular Greek newspaper, stated that although Kavallaris' statement was made “with the best of intentions”, it was clear that the situation on Santorini in terms of the number of tourists coming to the island was spiralling out of control.

According to official data, up to seven cruise ships can dock at the island at the same time. Therefore, local authorities and residents of Santorini are calling for restrictions on visitors to preserve the island's charm and reduce overcrowding. In response to this issue, Mayor Nikos Zorzos has been actively pushing for restrictions, proposing to reduce the number of cruise ship visitors from around 17,000 visitors daily to just 8,000.

Santorini has become a magnet for millions of tourists thanks to its iconic sunsets and picturesque landscapes. However, this popularity has led to an acute overpopulation problem, prompting locals to demand urgent measures, Schengen.News reports.

Santorini, a small island in the Aegean Sea, is a pearl of stunning beauty that attracts more than 3.4 million tourists annually, and this figure will only grow. However, for the island's 20,000 permanent residents, this influx poses significant challenges, threatening the very beauty that attracts so many.