Greece bans new short-term lets in Athens effective January 1, 2025

The Greek government announced on Monday that it will impose a ban on new licenses for short-term rentals in three central districts of Athens, Greece, effective January 1, 2025. This decision aims to address the housing crisis exacerbated by the rise of platforms like Airbnb and will remain in place for at least a year.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni emphasized the need to balance the profitable tourism industry with the housing needs of locals. The government’s measures also include an increase in the tax on short-term rentals. The daily tax will rise from 1.5 euros to 8 euros during the peak tourist season from April to October and from 0.5 euros to 2 euros in the winter months. These tax revenues will help fund initiatives to address the impacts of climate change-related natural disasters.

Kefalogianni noted that short-term rentals often function similarly to hotels and have placed additional pressure on local communities. She indicated that the ban could be extended beyond the initial year if necessary.

Greece‘s tourism sector is expected to achieve record revenues of 22 billion euros this year, building on last year’s total of 20.6 billion euros. Kefalogianni expressed optimism about the country’s standing as a top global tourist destination, which is reflected in the anticipated growth in tourism revenue.

New levy on cruise ship visitors to Santorini and Mykonos

Also, a 20-euro levy on cruise ship visitors to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos will take effect next year, aimed at mitigating the effects of over-tourism during the busy summer season.

“A cruise fee is [going to be] imposed per passenger who disembarks in a port in Santorini and Mykonos,” said Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a speech Saturday outlining his policies for 2025. The prime minister said he was concerned about “the image on some of our islands some months of the year due to cruise ships.”

The article Greece bans new short-term lets in Athens effective January 1, 2025 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.