Greece Caps Hotel Beds on Saturated Islands
Greece is overhauling how tourism development works across its islands, with Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou set to present a new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism on Monday.
The framework divides islands into development zones based on how saturated each area already is. In the most overcrowded districts, classified as Controlled Development Areas, new tourist accommodation will be capped at just 75 beds per project, though the limit could still be raised to 100 following ongoing negotiations between ministries and industry stakeholders.
Less saturated areas classified as Developing Zones would allow much larger projects, up to 350 beds. This means a single island can have dramatically different rules depending on the district. On Corfu, for instance, Corfu Town faces the tightest restrictions while nearby districts like Faiakes could accommodate significantly larger hotels.
Entire islands including Santorini, Mykonos, Skiathos and Kos have been classified as fully saturated, with near-total restrictions on new large accommodation. On Crete, specific areas in Heraklion and Chania are included in the saturated category as well.
The plan also introduces new levies across the tourism sector, including for simple rental rooms, with funds directed toward urban renewal and infrastructure projects. Environmental incentives for upgrading existing accommodations are included, and modern low-footprint hospitality models like luxury glamping are being actively promoted.
A coastal construction ban would prohibit any building or landscaping within 25 meters of the shoreline across Greece. The framework also separates the islands, excluding Evia and Crete, into three groups by size, each with tailored rules on where tourism development is permitted and where it is restricted or banned outright.
