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Have you ever dreamt of watching the sunset on the picturesque Greek island of Santorini? With its stunning views and quaint villages, it's no wonder tourists armed with selfie sticks and smartphones flock here in droves. But beneath the surface of this idyllic paradise, a darker reality unfolds.
Why is Santorini's dream turning into a nightmare for its residents? What impact does mass tourism have on this once pristine island? Let's delve deeper.
Santorini's permanent population of 20,000 has watched as over 3.4 million visitors descended upon the island last year alone, according to Mayor Nikos SOS. This influx has put immense pressure on the island's outdated infrastructure and housing market. In response, Mayor SOS is advocating for a cap on the number of beds available on the island and a reduction in cruise ship visitors to 8,000 a day, down from the current 177,000.
Geo Amigos, who runs a hotel his parents opened in the 1980s, knows firsthand the impact of this tourism boom. "Our standard of living has gone down," he laments. "When you increase the number of visitors 20 times on a small island, it takes a toll."
But what kind of infrastructure does a 70-square-kilometer island need to support such an increase without turning into a monster? This question is at the heart of the debate as protests against excessive tourismism erupt in destinations like Venice and Barcelona.
On the flip side, however, some residents see the influx of tourists as a boon. Alexandros Pelicanos, vice president of Santorini's Trade Association, argues that with better infrastructure, the island could handle even more visitors. "Do we want money or not?" he asks. "You can't have your peace and quiet and make money."
Santorini's tourism boom is a microcosm of Greece's national trend, with tourism revenues rising 16% in the first five months of this year. In 2024, the island is projected to surpass last year's record of 33 million arrivals.
So, as the sun sets on Santorini, we must ask ourselves: Is the cost of mass tourism too high? Can this island strike a balance between preserving its natural beauty and reaping the economic benefits? The answers to these questions will shape the future of this enchanting isle.
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