Santorini overwhelmed: Residents urged to limit movements amid tourist surge
In a single day, 11,000 guests arrived on the Greek island of Santorini, which is home to around 15,000 residents. This influx creates an uncomfortable situation for both the locals and tourists. Special appeals have been made to both groups to address the issue.
5:08 AM EDT, July 25, 2024
Many Greeks, regardless of their political views, are concerned about the phenomenon of excessive tourism in many regions, including Santorini.
Appeals to residents
According to the eKathimerini portal, Panagiotis Kavallaris, an official in Santorini, asked the residents to limit their movements due to the increased tourist traffic.
This appeal was spread through social media. Although the post has since been removed, it caught the attention of the Greek public and resulted in many negative comments. "For the sake of tourists, a lockdown was imposed on the residents," some were irritated.
Tourists on Santorini
Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of Santorini, said that the number of guests arriving daily should not exceed 9,000. He announced that a limit on the number of people arriving in Santorini would be reinstated starting next year. He noted that a new port should be built, and improvements should be made to the energy infrastructure and urban planning. He also advocated for regulations on hotel and Airbnb operations.
As pointed out by "The Sun," another serious problem on Santorini might be water shortages in the near future. This issue isn't unique to Santorini. Last month, an emergency was declared on the island of Leros. Due to a water deficit, local authorities appealed to residents to minimize washing cars, watering plants, or cooling down yards and streets with water.
The Greek Reporter portal has warned that during the summer, due to heatwaves and the mass influx of guests, not only Santorini and Leros but also Mykonos, Rhodes, and Corfu might face water shortages.
Source: PAP/"The Sun"
