‘Without rules we cannot live’: Greece seeks ways to tackle ‘overtourism’
‘Without rules we cannot live’: Greece seeks ways to tackle ‘overtourism’
Residents of some Greek islands struggle with cost of living and environmental issues due to excessive tourist numbers.
Local tourism is underrated. Your local destinations may not be known around the world, but they are nice enough and what makes travel enjoyable is breaking your daily routine and spending time outdoors with your loved ones, both of which you can do nearly anywhere.
Mixed mode travel where you hop on a train and then explore an area by hiking or bike touring is particularly rewarding.
15True but there’s a lot to be said about experiencing other cultures and countries.
8Only to the extent that it makes you realize we are all the same, I guess. Or at least that's how I feel after having lived in three countries and marrying somebody from a fourth.
There is a lot that you can learn and experience from other countries and cultures without actually traveling there. And there is very little you learn from a few days visiting some crowded tourist traps.
Just my opinion.
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I've been wanting to visit Greece in the near future, so this isn't encouraging news.
8I’ve been wanting to visit Greece in the near future, so this isn’t encouraging news.
It's a large country with tons of nice places to visit. The problem is that lots of tourists flock to only a few spots. You shouldn't have any problem as long as you spread around a bit.
10Greece is a relatively large country though, it's not a city-state by any means. Tourism can still be possible there without over-burdening the few islands that suffer under their name recognition.
9I see it as a win for the environment and ultimately if one gets to go it won't be like Venice where is almost impossible to get a picture with a thousand people behind and in front of anything from 11am to 7pm.
7Just don't visit in the main months. I was on San torini this year on April and it was super nice without so many people. Yes you couldn't swim because it was too cold but that's it. The experience otherwise is the same
6If it means, that there is less tourism overall, you might have to wait a bit longer. But on the flipside you actually get to see and enjoy the country, instead of being crowded with other tourists all the time.
4It's only bad in some places, like Santorini.
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If I recall Fiji banned cruise ships during covid, but allowed private yachts. Turned out that was half of the tourist industry preserved, as cruise ship tourists spend a lot less money on the island. Obviously that is half the globe away and Greece is different from Fiji, but it shows that high end is really a viable strategy.
6Yeah, fuck poor people - only rich ones should be able to travel anyway.
16Well, natives deserve not being swarmed with tourists, too.
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