Despite being a top tourist destination, Santorini faces challenges with under-capacity in hotels and restaurants as visitors flock during the day but leave the island nearly deserted at night, according to local tour operator Gianluca Chimenti.
Bollywood Fever: Santorini, one of Greece’s most iconic and picturesque islands, is facing an unexpected challenge despite its immense popularity among tourists.
The volcanic island, famed for its stunning sunsets, whitewashed houses, and azure waters, attracts thousands of visitors daily.
However, according to a local tour operator, Gianluca Chimenti, the island’s businesses are struggling due to a peculiar pattern of overcrowding during the day and near-empty streets at night.
Greece, with its 6,000 islands and islets—227 of which are inhabited—has long been a favorite destination for holidaymakers.
Santorini, in particular, has been a magnet for tourists since the 1970s, thanks to its breathtaking beauty and charming hilltop views.
This year is no different, with the island receiving a surge of visitors, especially during the peak tourist season.
However, Chimenti, who has lived on the island for 18 years, points out a significant problem that is hurting local businesses. “The streets are packed to the brim during the day,” he says, “but by nighttime, the place turns into a ghost town.”
The influx of day-trippers, primarily from cruise ships, leads to severe overcrowding during the day, but as soon as the sun sets, these visitors return to their ships, leaving the island eerily quiet.
The mismatch between the daytime crowds and nighttime desertion is impacting the island’s economy.
Hotels, which should be bustling with overnight guests, are operating at less than 30% capacity, according to Chimenti.
Restaurants and other businesses are also feeling the pinch, struggling to attract enough patrons once the day-trippers leave.
Chimenti attributes this issue to the island’s reputation for overcrowding, which may be deterring potential visitors who would prefer to stay longer and experience Santorini more fully. “The problem is that social media is showing something completely different from what is the reality,” he told CNN. “Over-tourism doesn’t exist. What I see is a lack of structures.”
To address the overcrowding issue, Santorini’s Mayor, Nikos Zorzos, has proposed capping the number of cruise ship passengers to 8,000 per day, a move that has received support from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The cap is expected to be implemented next year.
Chimenti also suggests a better distribution of tourists across the island’s various attractions. “Santorini has one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe,” he notes. “Why are cruise ships not organizing tours to these sites? If tourists are split across different parts of the island, they will have more time to enjoy, and you will never have crowds in any one place.”
As Santorini grapples with these challenges, there is hope that a more balanced approach to tourism can be found—one that allows both visitors and local businesses to thrive. By spreading out the influx of tourists and encouraging longer stays, Santorini could see a return to a more sustainable and prosperous tourism model.
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