Summer is underway, and so are the holidays. This means one thing: people worldwide travel to and explore the most popular destinations. This undoubtedly includes the Greek island of Santorini, renowned for its picturesque white-and-blue cottages that often appear on social media. However, the locals have little reason to celebrate. The sheer number of visitors overwhelms them, leaving them exhausted and unable to function normally.

Holiday 2024 has been notable for locals around the world who regularly complain about tourists. The situation in Barcelona is particularly acute. The influx of visitors has made it virtually impossible for residents to live normally. Tourists occupy most of the hotels, considerably driving up the cost of housing and accommodation. Many locals are forced to move out because they can no longer afford the rent. Consequently, protests are ongoing in Barcelona, with residents demanding that the authorities address the issue of over-tourism.

Santorini is grappling with the same problems as Barcelona. On Tuesday, 23 July, a record number of tourists were expected to arrive on the Greek island, with authorities reporting up to 17,000 visitors. This was far from an ideal situation for the locals, but they would likely have managed somehow. However, the real controversy arose from a social media post by one of the island's councillors, which was swiftly deleted.

The Santorini authorities suggested that residents limit their movements and preferably stay at home on Tuesday, 23 July. This recommendation was made to ensure that tourists could move around freely and reach their hotels without difficulty before starting their holidays. The locals became very upset, and Councillor Panos Kavalaris's post disappeared soon after.

"Emergency Announcement. With the arrival of 17,000 visitors from cruise ships, another difficult day is expected for our city and island! We ask for your attention and advise you to reduce your movements around the island as much as possible," Panos Kavalaris wrote on social media.

In the end, 11,000 tourists arrived on the island, fewer than the controversial councillor had anticipated, but still too many, according to local authorities and residents. The unusual situation has sparked a public debate about whether there should be restrictions on the number of visitors to the island. Such measures may come into force in 2025.

Source: polsatnews.pl, geekweek.interia.pl