According to The Guardian - Main UK, Haris Doukas described Athens as at risk of over-saturation from tourism, with more than 8 million visitors last year—a record. He said the city cannot operate as if it were a giant hotel and that restrictions are needed. Doukas noted that infrastructure is overstretched, with the city being dug up to build new electricity, water, drainage, and 5G networks to cope with the pressure of 700,000 residents and 8 million visitors.
Overnight stays in short-term rentals in the Plaka district have more than doubled since 2018, and property rents have soared, pricing out local people. Doukas said entire neighborhoods are in danger of losing their authenticity due to uncontrolled tourist development.
Athens cannot operate as if it were a giant hotel. Restrictions and rules are needed. Cities must also have a say in the way they develop.
Doukas, who assumed the post of mayor in 2024, plans to call for a blanket ban on new business activity in the city's historical centre. According to The Guardian - Main UK, he described stopping all tourist investment in Plaka, saying there is no more room for short-term rentals, serviced apartments, hotels, or any other tourism use. The specific restrictions in the proposed tourism land-use bill remain unclear, as does the enforcement mechanism and timeline for the ban.
All of Athens is being dug up so that we can cope. We're building electricity infrastructure, water systems, new drainage, 5G networks. When you have around 700,000 residents and 8 million visitors, the pressure is enormous.
We'll be stopping all tourist investment in Plaka, which I am on a mission to save. There's no more room. Not for short-term rental, not for serviced apartments, not for hotels, or any other tourism use. The area is over-saturated.