Starting Monday, July 21, Greece has implemented a new “sustainable tourism fee” for cruise passengers disembarking at its ports, aiming to manage overtourism and support infrastructure improvements at high-traffic destinations, ekathimerini and amna has reported.
The fee varies by season and location, with the highest charges applied during peak months and at the country’s most visited islands, such as Mykonos and Santorini.
From June 1 to September 30, travelers arriving at Mykonos or Santorini will pay €20, while those at other ports will be charged €5. During the shoulder seasons—April 1 to May 31 and October 1 to 31—the fee drops to €12 at Mykonos and Santorini, and €3 elsewhere. In the off-season (November 1 to March 31), fees are reduced to €4 at the two islands and €1 at other ports.
Although the charge applies to passengers, cruise operators and shipping agents are responsible for collecting the fee and remitting it to the state. The entire process will be handled through an electronic system operated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy.
The initiative reflects Greece’s broader efforts to balance tourism growth with sustainability, particularly in destinations under increasing pressure from mass tourism.
Source: amna, kathimerini
