Overview

• Mayor Haris Doukas said stricter controls, including potential bans in specific areas, could be announced at the end of September if overcrowding persists.
• Greece’s new health and safety rules for short-term holiday lets take effect on October 1, requiring ventilation, air conditioning, safety certifications and liability insurance, with €5,000 fines for violations.
• Athens’ Sustainable Tourism Observatory tracks indicators such as beds per resident and alerts officials when areas turn “red,” prompting coordination with platforms like Airbnb to redirect demand.
• Officials link the rise in holiday rentals to mounting housing pressure on residents and say interventions aim to keep tourism sustainable rather than copy entry fees or mass delistings used elsewhere.
• The mayor expects around 10 million visitors this year, describing a sharp increase in tourist flows that is testing neighborhood carrying capacity.