34 Greek islands are working towards change. They want new fees from tourists
Authorities of 34 Greek islands have taken steps to introduce a new fee for one-day tourists. There are authorities in the association demanding changes
Greece has been breaking records in recent years in the number of tourists visiting it. In the period from January to August 2025, 25 million guests arrived, an increase of 4.1%. compared to the same period last year.
The number of tourists in Greece is growing. New fees are planned
The large influx of visitors in the summer season is especially felt by the islanders. Already this summer, the mayors of the islands of Symi, Ithaca and Paxos announced that they would ask the government for permission to introduce fees for one-day tourists. The initiative received a much greater response. The Regional Association of Municipalities of the South Aegean Coast (connecting 19 Cycladic and 15 Dodecanese islands) has unanimously decided to ask the government to pass legislation allowing municipalities to collect fees, “documented and consistent with the decisions of municipal councils”, as in Europe.
34 islands are demanding change. Mykonos and Naxos are on the list
The authorities of 34 islands, including popular holiday destinations, are interested in introducing fees such as Kos, Santorini and Mykonos and Naxos, which is becoming more and more fashionable among travelers. Also on the list are: Agatonisi, Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Arkoi, Astypalea, Folegandros, Ios, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Kea (Tzia), Kimolos, Kythnos, Leipsoi, Leros, Milos, Nisyros, Paros, Patmos, Rhodes, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Symi, Syros, Tilos and Tinos.
Legal documentation is currently being prepared and will be reviewed by the Greek government. This step may open the way to the introduction of new fees.
The initiator of the new solution is the mayor of Symi Eleftherios Papakalodoukas. After the city council’s decision, he asked the relevant ministries for permission to introduce a special one fees of 3 euros per person for day-trippers visiting the island. Every day, from a thousand to 5,000 tourists come here to see the picturesque bay and the monastery dedicated to Michael the Archangel in Panormitis. They reach Symi from Rhodes, neighboring islands and from nearby Turkey.
Such huge numbers of guests put a strain on small communities – infrastructure, water, electricity and sewage networks. Municipalities’ expenses for waste management are also increasing, while one-day visitors do not book even one overnight stay on small islands. It’s not about discouraging guests.
“Of course we want these flows, but we cannot continue to increase municipal fees for residents,” explained the mayor of Symi in an interview with kathimerini.gr.
