90 times more tourists than residents. Greek islands want fees.

Symi, Ithaca, and Paxos are three Greek islands that may soon introduce additional taxes on tourists. Their mayors are considering asking the government for permission to charge a fee to same-day visitors. Each island's population ranges from 2,500 to 3,000, while during the summer months, the number of visitors can exceed this figure by up to 90 times. The resulting funds would be used to improve the management of tourist infrastructure.

New taxes in Greece are only a matter of time

More and more Greek islands are grappling with the problem of too many tourists relative to their population. Overtourism is no longer a problem limited to the most popular destinations, such as Santorini and Mykonos, which recently introduced a tax on cruise passengers.

The populations of Symi, Ithaca, and Paxos each exceed 3,000. In July and August, these destinations are visited by up to several hundred thousand people . These are largely day tourists who arrive from neighboring islands or on longer cruise vacations.

The islands' mayors have already announced they will fight for government permission to introduce taxes. The mayor of Symi was the first to propose such an initiative. If that island receives the green light, Ithaca and Paxos will also apply for tourist fees.

It's not just the ship passengers who pay

You don't have to be a cruise ship passenger to pay a fortune for a vacation in Greece. Travel agency customers also need to be aware of additional fees. Even if they book a trip through a tour operator, they still have to pay the tax out of their own pocket, which varies depending on the standard of the property. Guests of the most expensive, five-star hotels and villas must pay as much as €15 per night per room during high season. In four-star properties, this fee is €10, and in three-star properties, €5.

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