Despite spray-painted slogans ordering tourists to ‘go home’ and the city’s mayor declaring tourism is only bringing in pennies, airport numbers are on the rise
Desperate pleas against over-tourism seem to be ignored, as one particular hotspot is already flooded with visitors. It’s supposedly low season in Athens – the capital of Greece – that once held one of the world’s most powerful civilisations and empires – but droves of holidaymakers are already in full force.
With spectacular sights such as the Acropolis, and the National Archaeological Museum, self-stick-waving tourists from across the world flock to the city every year to soak in the rich culture and history. Athens has also become wildly popular with foodies wanting to try out local delicacies like Souvlaki and Gyros – and is a convenient base for those wanting to visit acclaimed sights on the coast, like the Temple of Poseidon.
But, with a trove of treasures like no other, Athens has become increasingly more crowded – and locals aren’t too happy about the ever-growing number of tourists infiltrating the city. In the peak seasons, June – August, the city can be almost unmovable, and queues to even use the restaurant bathroom can take forever.
Last year, hostility against tourists ramped up after spray-painted slogans reading ‘Tourists go home’ and ‘No tourists; no hipsters’ appeared on walls in popular areas. Residents argue that the soaring spike in holiday rentals has priced them out of the property market – while rowdy tourists are causing constant noise pollution.
Katerina Kikilia, professor of Tourism Management at the University of West Attica told EuroNews the city needs ‘rules’ to clamp down on the crowds. “Athenians face daily the social and environmental impact,” she added. “The housing crisis is huge.”
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Mayor Harris Doukas has also spoken out about the issue, explaining that tourism doesn’t bring in as much money into the local economy as people think: a common argument against anti-tourism rhetoric. “Each visitor brings €0.40 to the city, and we haven’t seen this money yet,” he said. “We need sustainable tourism that doesn’t worsen city inequalities.”
But, new data shows that tourists travelling through Athens Airport actually jumped 4.5 per cent in January, compared to 2024, reaching a whopping 1.83 million passengers. Flights at the hub spiked too, amounting to 16,546 last month – a 10.1 per cent rise. Domestic and international passenger traffic exceeded last year’s levels, by 5.1 per cent and 18.7 per cent respectively.
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