Athens isn’t marked by overtourism but shows signs of tourism fragility: After a year of focused effort, Athens wrapped up its Tourism Carrying Capacity Study. The project, conducted by the Municipality of Athens through Development Athens S.A., involved the University of Piraeus’ Tourism Studies Department and the consulting firm Goimisis & Partners.
Key Observations:
- No Overtourism, But Fragility: Athens isn’t marked by overtourism but shows signs of “tourism fragility,” with rising pressure on its infrastructure due to increased visitor numbers.
- Neighborhood Overload: Core city areas like Plaka, Monastiraki, and Psyrri face heavy strain from locals and tourists. These spots also see spikes in water, energy, and waste use.
- Suburban Effects: Outer neighborhoods such as Dourgouti and Kato Patisia experience growing tourism impacts, affecting local living conditions and housing markets.
Overcrowded and Pressured Areas
Athens’ first and second municipal districts are home to 14 overcrowded neighborhoods. These areas contribute 50% of the city’s resource use, driven largely by tourism. Notable zones include:
- Overburdened Areas: Psyrri-Koumoundourou, Monastiraki-Plaka, Kolonaki, Koukaki, and Makrygianni.
- Rising Pressure Spots: Nea Kypseli, Dourgouti, and parts of Exarchia show increasing tourism activity.
Additionally, 27 neighborhoods combine high tourism density with steep rent hikes, impacting affordability for residents.
Long-Term Effects on the City
Tourism’s year-round presence adds ongoing stress without much downtime. A notable finding is that high-season tourism (May-October) doesn’t worsen the problem because many locals leave the city during this period, balancing the visitor-resident ratio. However, Athens consistently absorbs pressure from tourism throughout the year as a city break destination.
Between 2021 and 2023, waste production rose 2.6% during tourist months and 6.3% outside the high season. The sustained impact demands attention to balancing tourism and daily life.
Residents’ Perspectives
A survey of 788 Athens residents revealed mixed feelings about tourism’s impact. While 53% view it positively, concerns persist:
- Adverse Impacts: Rising rents, waste buildup, noise, and traffic pressure.
- Neutral or Mixed Views: On environmental changes and local behavior disruptions. Most residents feel tourism brings challenges but aren’t overwhelmingly against it.
The 1st Municipal District, highly dependent on tourism economically, recognizes tourism’s importance more than other areas. Yet, locals acknowledge increased waste, traffic, and housing pressures.
A data analysis of 24,000 visitor reviews from platforms like Airbnb and Google Maps raised critical points:
- Noise pollution in central districts.
- Crowding at landmarks like the Acropolis and public transport hubs.
- High prices in central neighborhoods, reflecting both resident and visitor experiences.
7 Pillars for Sustainable Tourism
The study emphasizes balanced, sustainable tourism benefiting both residents and visitors. Seven strategic pillars include:
- Regulating tourism development and infrastructure.
- Introducing measures for short-term rental management.
- Encouraging sustainable and responsible tourism initiatives.
- Protecting local community interests.
- Investing in infrastructure and public services.
- Managing tourism flows and congestion effectively.
- Revising tourism-related taxes and policies.
These pillars come with 63 specific actions, outlined with timelines and stakeholders for implementation.
Looking Ahead: A Tourism Observatory
A Sustainable Tourism Observatory, proposed by Development Athens, will support real-time data analysis to oversee tourism fragility impacts. The initiative aims to connect neighboring municipalities, forming a metropolitan approach to tourism management. This integrated effort seeks to raise the quality of life for residents, improve visitor experiences, and ensure environmental sustainability.
The study combined long-term data (2018-2023) from sectors like short-term rentals and hospitality with field research and sentiment analysis on issues like noise, safety, and affordability.
