Athens battles back: mayor threatens tourist overload, seeks to reclaim city’s soul
The ancient heart of Athens is choking, officials warn, as a relentless tide of tourists threatens to erase the city’s identity and overwhelm its infrastructure.
A battle for authenticity: doukas’s radical plan
Mayor Haris Doukas, a former climate energy professor turned local government leader, is waging a fierce campaign against unchecked tourist development, arguing that Athens is rapidly transforming into – and becoming – ‘another Barcelona.’ He’s enacting drastic measures, including a potential ban on new business ventures in the historic Plaka district, a move that’s already sparking heated debate.
Last year alone, Athens welcomed a record 8 million visitors, a staggering increase from its previous status as a mere gateway to the Greek islands. Short-term rentals in Plaka have more than doubled since 2018, according to a recent municipal study – a trend that Doukas insists is unsustainable and detrimental to the city’s long-term wellbeing.
The numbers tell the story
The pressure is immense. With around 700,000 permanent residents and a constant influx of 8 million tourists, Athens faces an unprecedented strain on its resources. The city is currently undergoing a massive infrastructure overhaul – including the installation of new electricity grids, water systems, drainage networks, and 5G technology – to cope with the overwhelming demand. Doukas himself highlights the “digging up of all of Athens” as a necessary, albeit disruptive, step.
A shift in strategy
Surprisingly, Doukas has found an unlikely ally in Evgenios Vassilikos, the head of the powerful hoteliers’ association, who has floated the idea of capping hotel construction. Barcelona’s example – a city that hasn’t issued new hotel licenses since 2017 – is being cited as a model for sustainable tourism.
But the fight isn’t just about hotels. Doukas is targeting construction companies erecting multi-story buildings at the foot of the Acropolis and property investors exploiting the lucrative short-term rental market. He’s determined to preserve Plaka, declaring, “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.”
A legacy of green initiatives
Despite the challenges, Doukas has overseen a significant increase in green spaces, planting an estimated 3,855 trees across the municipality. Driven by a commitment to “green” Athens, he’s also established a social housing office to incentivize young couples to remain in the city center – a crucial step in combating the affordability crisis exacerbated by tourism.
“We’ve created a social housing office to identify buildings and apartments that we can renovate with EU funds,” Doukas stated. “We want to incentivize young couples to remain in the centre. While other cities are moving toward cement and skyscrapers, we’re moving in an altogether other direction, and that includes demolishing buildings to create public space for parks and playgrounds. Athens is for its people. It is not only for those who simply want to exploit it.”