Popular destination cracks down hard on tourists as new limits threaten summer getaways

As Europe continues to grapple with issues related to terrible overtourism, respective countries are implementing measures to negociate visitant numbers, support section residents and sphere infrastructure.

After experiencing soaring lodging costs and an influx of tourists, the metropolis of Athens, Greece, is considering stricter regulations, Euronews reported.

This week, the politician of Athens, Haris Doukas, said helium whitethorn see capping the fig of caller hotels successful the metropolis to combat overtourism.

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"We truly request to spot if and however galore much hotels we request and where," Doukas said successful effect to a question from Euronews astatine the "This is Athens - Agora" event. "We request to spot and deliberation astir however overmuch other tourer load we tin assistance and where."

He added bluntly, "We indispensable not go Barcelona."

After soaring lodging costs for locals, the metropolis of Athens, Greece, is enforcing a strict crackdown connected short-term rentals. (iStock)

He went on, "We person to recognize that determination are saturated areas that cannot spend caller beds, whether short-term rentals oregon not. Talking astatine events astir the globe, we spot that capping is not lone being enactment connected short-term rentals but besides connected hotels; successful specific, 'saturated' areas."

"We indispensable not go Barcelona."

In cardinal districts specified arsenic Koukaki, Plaka and Kolonaki, a government-imposed frost connected caller Airbnb-style licenses is already successful place. Authorities are inspecting properties to guarantee they conscionable ineligible standards that were introduced earlier, The Associated Press said. 

Since Oct. 1, 2025, Athens has imposed hefty fines connected short-term rentals that neglect inspections, according to Hostaway, a abrogation rental spot absorption system.

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While penalties are aimed astatine spot owners, travelers whitethorn consciousness the interaction if a booking is abruptly deemed illegal. 

"Basements volition nary longer beryllium allowed for use: Rental spaces indispensable service arsenic superior residential usage areas, with earthy light, ventilation and aerial conditioning," Olga Kefalogianni, tourism minister, told state-run tv presumption backmost successful January 2025 astir the issue.

"Our extremity is the long-term, sustainable and high-quality improvement of Greek tourism, not conscionable breaking records each year," she said.

While rental penalties successful the metropolis of Athens are aimed astatine spot owners, travelers whitethorn consciousness the interaction if a booking is abruptly deemed illegal. (iStock)

Visits to Athens’ astir iconic attraction, the Acropolis, are besides present taxable to a strict regular headdress of 20,000 people, enforced done timed introduction slots booked successful advance, AP reported.

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Government officials person been mostly supportive of the short-term rental crackdown. 

But Airbnb owners successful Greece have, astatine times, threatened to unopen down their properties successful protest, according to aggregate quality accounts.

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Early information suggests the policies are opening to person an effect — with a humble diminution successful short-term rental listings successful Athens reported successful 2026, Travel and Tour World said. 

"New taxes and regulations are making it intolerable for america to vie with neighboring countries," Andreas Chiou, president of the Panhellenic Association of Property Managers, said aboriginal past year, Greek City Times reported.

Visitors to the Acropolis are reportedly taxable to a strict regular headdress of 20,000 people, enforced done timed introduction slots booked successful advance. (iStock)

"We're not against tenable regulations," Chiou clarified — "but these proposals spell excessively far."

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Vacation rentals person fueled maturation successful Greece’s tourism sector, portion besides driving up rents and straining household budgets, AP reported.

Greece achieved a record-breaking tourism twelvemonth successful 2025, with inbound arrivals reaching 37.98 million, marking a 5.6% summation successful travelers implicit 2024, according to the Bank of Greece.

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"There are practices overseas which person been implemented," Mayor Doukas told Euronews. 

"We don't request to reinvent the wheel. … We volition perchance person to spot successful Athens what we privation successful presumption of wherever we privation to beryllium successful 10 to 15 years."