Greece has introduced new taxes for cruise passengers and tourists, set to take effect in 2025, as part of a broader effort to address the economic impact of natural disasters and manage overtourism in the nation’s most popular destinations.
Under the new measures, cruise ship passengers visiting the islands of Santorini and Mykonos will be charged an EUR 20 (USD 21) fee, while a lower fee of EUR 5 (US$5.27) will apply to other destinations, including Crete (Heraklion, Souda-Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno), Corfu, and Rhodes.
Tourists staying overnight in Greece will also face increased accommodation taxes starting next year. Short-term stays during the peak tourist season from April to October will incur a daily tax increase from EUR 1.5 (US$1.58) to EUR 8 (US$8.41), while winter rates will rise from EUR 0.5 (US$0.53) to EUR 2 (US$2.11). Hotel guests will experience similar hikes, with the tax varying by the establishment’s star rating and reaching a maximum of EUR 15 (US$16) per night.
The Greek government expects the new measures to raise EUR 400 million (USD 421M) annually, nearly double the amount collected in 2023.
The additional revenue will be allocated to the Climate Change Resilience Fund, designed to help Greece manage the economic fallout from natural disasters and implement sustainable tourism practices.
The islands of Santorini and Mykonos, which have become major hubs for cruise tourism, are at the center of this initiative. Santorini, for example, saw 11,000+ visitors in a single day last August, a striking figure for an island with a local population of only 15,000. Mykonos has faced similar challenges, with both islands hosting a combined total of more than 1.2 million cruise passengers in 2023. Santorini alone welcomed 800 cruise ships last year, highlighting the strain such volumes place on local infrastructure and resources.
To address these challenges, Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Prime Minister) has suggested that the government may implement caps on cruise ship arrivals starting in 2025. Such measures would complement the new tariffs by further controlling the influx of tourists to the islands.
This initiative aligns with global trends, as other countries, such as Mexico, have also introduced similar taxes aimed at managing tourism sustainably and funding resilience projects. Mexico, for instance, recently announced a US$42 immigration tax set to take effect in 2025.
Greece’s new tax policy reflects a growing recognition among popular tourist destinations of the need to balance economic benefits with sustainable tourism management.