The passengers of the cruise ships that land at the Greek islands Santorini and Mykonos must pay a fee of 20 euros starting from July 1, the Ministry of Finance announces.
Santorini/Photo: Pixabay
“As provided for by the law, the tax will be applied for the Santorini, Mykonos islands and for other islands to a lesser extent.”said a ministry spokesman, according to Travel Weekly.
Last year, Greece adopted this law to try to regulate the arrivals on the islands where the large flow of tourists puts the infrastructures to the test, such as the two highly appreciated territories in the Cyclades archipelago, in the Aegean.
For other islands, the tax increases to 5 euros from July 1, after regulation, cruise agencies are those that will pay these taxes in a first stage and which would be reflected in the price of tickets paid by passengers.
Also, from January 1, 2025, an increase in the travel tax, applicable to all types of accommodation – from modest pensions, to luxury hotels and private villas, has officially entered into force. Depending on the period when you travel and the type of unit chosen, the price per night can increase significantly.
Tourism remains an essential pillar of the Greek economy: in 2023, Greece attracted about 36 million visitors – more than three times more than its population.
And in 2024, the country registered a record of about 40.7 million international tourists, according to the official data of the Greek Bank. The revenues generated by the tourism have reached a historical level, exceeding 30.2 billion euros, reflecting both the increase in the number of visitors and the higher expenses per tourist.
