Tourists visiting Greek islands need to pay £17 fee until September 30

Holiday-makers jetting off to a Greek island this summer could face an unwelcome surprise charge. Greece's fresh 'sustainable tourism fee' has been rolled out by the government to cruise passengers from July 21.

In a bid to curb overtourism during peak time, from June 1 to September 30, tourists stepping off ships at Mykonos and Santorini must cough up €20 each - that's £17.35. The levy drops in October and during the shoulder season between April 1 and May 31 to €12 (£10.41). From November 1 to March 31, the cost falls further to €4.

Additional charges hit other Greek island ports, with travellers stung for €5 (£4.34) throughout the summer months. During winter, cruise tourists face a €1 (87p) fee, rising to €3 (£2.60) in early spring. Cruise operators must declare and settle the charge every three months.

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The fresh levies aim to combat overcrowding triggered by tourism. The charge applies per passenger and hits each port where they disembark. Yet, the tax has sparked fury from Mykonos port authorities.

Athanasios Kousathanas-Megas, president of the Mykonos Port Fund, branded the tax a 'curse' for the island's economy. Speaking to the Greek Reporter, he said: "I believe that the price difference will create problems in choosing a cruise ship from 2026."

What happens if payments aren't made?

Cruise companies or agents are responsible for covering the fee, which will be reported through a specific digital platform. Subsequently, they will settle the fees they have accumulated from passenger disembarkations quarterly.

If the cruise company fails to make the payment, the port authorities have the right to deny the cruise ship's future visits to the Greek islands and to disembark tourists.

Why has the Greek island cruise ship fee been put in place?

The fee is part of a broader effort to manage overtourism and generate revenue for infrastructure improvements and environmental initiatives. The tax revenue is meant to support tourism management, finance infrastructure initiatives such as a second port in Santorini, and tackle environmental challenges like wildfires and floods.

How many people visit Greece each year?

More than 30 million tourists travel to Greece each year. According to Road Genius, Greece welcomed 32.7 million international arrivals in 2023 and continued to increase in 2024 to 35.9 million international visitors, a 14.7 % increase over 2019 and a 9.8% increase over 2023.

Santorini reportedly attracts approximately two million visitors annually, while Mykonos is said to attract around 1.5 million tourists every year.

In a recent Statista report, Greece was placed sixth on the list of favorite European destinations for upcoming trips among travelers from Europe in 2024. When examining the international tourist arrivals in the country, Germany and the United Kingdom topped the list of inbound travel markets in Greece that year, with Italy and France following closely behind.

On July 23, 2024, a social media post by a Santorini city councillor announcing the arrival of 17,000 cruise passengers and advising residents to limit their movements reportedly caused fury. According to media outlets, the post was swiftly taken down, but the idea that locals should curtail their activities because of tourists was met with significant backlash.