Greece Plans to Limit Cruise Ships at Popular Islands

Santorini in Greece

Greece will limit the number of cruise ships that can visit some of its most popular islands, including Mykonos and Santorini, reports Bloomberg.

In an interview with the publication, Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he plans to enact a cap on cruise ships sometime “next year.” He did not reveal the exact details, but said ships might have to bid for berths; he is also considering a restriction on the total number of berths.

The move is an effort to address overtourism on the islands. Last year, roughly 800 ships with 1.3 million guests stopped at Santorini, while nearly 750 vessels visited Mykonos.

“There are people spending a lot of money to be on Santorini and they don’t want the island to be swamped,” Mitsotakis told Bloomberg. “Plus, the island can’t afford it, even in terms of security.

Greece is not the only destination to reconsider cruise ships in recent years. Juneau, Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona and other locales have all enacted bans or limitations on vessels.