Haris Doukas

Greece has expanded its list of protected beaches to 250-251, banning commercial activities like sunbed and umbrella rentals to combat overtourism and preserve ecological areas. The policy targets remote, environmentally sensitive beaches to protect habitats of endangered species such as monk seals and loggerhead turtles.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas warns that uncontrolled tourism, with 8 million visitors against 700,000 residents, is pushing locals out of neighborhoods and threatening the city's authenticity. He aims to reclaim the congested city center for residents.

Athens, Greece, is implementing strict measures to combat overtourism, including capping new hotels, imposing fines on non-compliant short-term rentals, and enforcing a daily visitor limit at the Acropolis. The city aims to balance tourism with sustainability, but these policies have sparked protests from Airbnb owners.