Greek officials are trying to calm the concerns of Romanian tourists, stressing that holidays in Greece remain pleasant and affordable even with the new restrictions introduced to manage mass tourism in crowded destinations.
The new measures adopted by the Greek authorities to limit mass tourism in crowded destinations will contribute to the protection of cultural heritage and the development of a more sustainable tourism model, Konstantinos Gkioulekas, Deputy Minister of the Interior for the regions of Macedonia and Thrace, said on Monday in Bucharest.
The Greek official made the statements on the sidelines of the “Cstrategic regional operation in South-Eastern Europe“, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the City of Bucharest (CCIB), in partnership with the Greek Embassy in Bucharest, according to Agerpres.
“These rules are made to help us preserve our cultural heritage, to protect both children and visitors. You can come to Greece and by following these rules you will still enjoy very nice holidays”said the Greek official.
He also emphasized the close relationship between Greece and Romania, appreciating Romanian tourists in particular.
“We see with how much respect and love our Romanian friends visit the places of worship in Greece”said Gkioulekas, adding that Romania occupies an important place in the modern history of Greece.
New rules in congested areas
On May 12, the Greek Government presented a package of measures to reduce the pressure on highly frequented tourist destinations, in the context in which Greece registered almost 38 million visitors last year.
The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, explained that the objective is the transition to a more sustainable tourism model, with reduced impact on the environment and infrastructure.
Among the measures announced are stricter restrictions on construction, especially in heavily visited islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes or Kos. New hotels in affected areas will have capacity limitations, and real estate developments will be carefully regulated.
Authorities are also considering new restrictions, such as a ban on low-heeled shoes at archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, to protect the more than two-millennia-old marble surfaces.
During peak season, islands like Santorini and Mykonos face overcrowding, water shortages, heavy traffic and rent hikes, problems residents have reported for years.
According to the estimates of the Bank of Greece, the number of tourists could reach 55 million by 2040, while tourism revenues would increase significantly, up to 36 billion euros.
