① Greece’s tourist number limit policy
Europe is suffering from over-tourism. Italy, France, and Austria are among the countries implementing various measures to limit the number of tourists.
Recently, Greece also announced a new policy due to the excessive number of tourists. The Greek government has announced plans to limit the daily number of visitors to the Acropolis, one of its landmark sites. From the 4th of next month, they will allow only 20,000 people to visit daily. Up to 3,000 people can visit until 9 a.m.; between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., only 2,000 people can enter. They have also set limits for the rest of the day.
The Greek government stated that the reason for limiting the number of tourists was to prevent the discomfort of staff and visitors due to excessive crowds.
The Acropolis can be toured until 8 p.m. Most visitors come in the morning, causing congestion.
The management of the Acropolis archaeological sites will limit the number of visitors and tourists per hour through a reservation site. After conducting a pilot operation, they will officially implement the policy restricting the number of visitors from next April.
The Greek government had already announced such measures. Last August, Lina Mendoni, the Greek Minister of Culture, said, “Currently, up to 23,000 tourists visit the Acropolis daily,” indicating a staggering number of visitors.
Starting next April, they will apply a new booking system to other Greek archaeological sites using electronic tickets. Most visitors to Greek archaeological sites reportedly buy electronic tickets.
② Overtourism serious on Santorini Island
Santorini Island in Greece is a resort destination that attracts tourists from all over the world. Many consider the island to be one of the most beautiful in Europe, and it stands as a major tourist destination in Greece, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Conflicts in the region due to over-tourism on Santorini Island have intensified for several years.
In 2012, 3.3 million tourists visited Santorini Island, which increased to 5.5 million by 2017. More and more tourists are visiting the island. The number of tourists visiting the island in a day exceeds the number of residents, who number about 13,000.
Santorini Island is about one-tenth the size of Jeju Island in Korea. On this small island, there are over 3,000 accommodations. There are far more tourists than locals on the island. Those who visit thinking of the relaxed island atmosphere often get surprised by the multitude of tourists.
The Greek government proposed various measures to operate Santorini Island at a level that could accommodate the number of visitors, but the effect was minimal. Residents are complaining of fatigue due to the influx of tourists.
This overtourism has also affected the famous donkeys of Santorini. To ride the tourist donkeys that climb the hills of Santorini, one must not weigh over 220 lbs. Donkeys cannot carry people or loads exceeding 20% of their weight.
In addition, the Greek government added a provision forcing donkey owners to ensure the best health conditions for their donkeys. If the owners find that the donkey is sick, has poor hoof conditions, or is pregnant, they cannot use it for business.
The Greek government stepped in to protect the donkeys because the plight of the donkeys working all day long was revealed. Over 100,000 people signed a petition called ‘Help the Santorini Donkeys’ started by an animal rights group opposing the use of donkeys as a means of transportation for tourists.
Until now, on Santorini Island, overweight tourists have been riding on donkeys without proper saddles.
Many donkeys have suffered spinal injuries and other disabilities. Especially on hot days, their health deteriorated after climbing hundreds of steps multiple times.
③ Tourists flocking to Europe
As tourists flock to Europe, residents are becoming angry. Noise is a given, and the streets are plagued with problems such as litter and traffic congestion.
Some residents even resort to extreme actions such as throwing water and hitting tourists with sticks. Tourists occupy the residents’ territories, constantly disrupting their daily lives. Residents’ discomfort is growing as their living spaces are damaged and losing their original appearance.
Residents have even protested to reject tourists. Overtourism in Europe has become even more severe after COVID-19.
By. Seo Seong-Min
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