Athens: A Dynamic City Break Destination Focused on Sustainability
Athens, May 16, 2026 – Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, emphasized Athens’ growing prominence as a dynamic city break destination, with a strong focus on sustainability. Her remarks came during a panel discussion at the 1st Conference on Local Government in Athens, held yesterday, May 15, 2026, under the theme “Innovative Practices and ‘Smart’ Solutions.” The conference was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.
Minister Kefalogianni participated in a panel titled “Sustainable tourism and local communities,” alongside Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, Peloponnese Regional Governor Dimitris Ptochos, and ITEP (Institute of Tourism Research & Forecasts) President Christina Tetradi. Journalist Dimitris Takis moderated the discussion.
“Athens today is a dynamic city break destination, and this is connected with the upgrading of the city’s image, the increase in investments, and the improvement of infrastructure,” the Minister stated, underscoring the city’s transformation.
New Regulations for Short-Term Rentals Introduced
Addressing the issue of short-term rentals, Mrs. Kefalogianni highlighted significant government initiatives aimed at regulating this activity. These regulations are also integrated into the new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism has already implemented operational and technical safety specifications for short-term rental properties.
Notably, the suspension of new registrations in the Short-Term Accommodation Property Registry is being enforced in central neighborhoods of Athens. The Minister specifically referenced the Plaka area, reminding attendees that a special Presidential Decree for its protection has been in force since 1993, defining its character and future development.
Policy for Sustainable and Resilient Tourism
The Minister outlined the government’s comprehensive policy for sustainable and resilient tourism. “Our goal is for the benefit of Greek tourism to be distributed fairly and reciprocally throughout Greece,” she asserted. She stressed that a destination’s true attractiveness is intrinsically linked to its sustainability for residents, emphasizing the direct connection between citizens’ quality of life and the quality of the tourist experience.
Regarding the ongoing discussion about “overtourism,” Mrs. Kefalogianni called for a documented approach to effectively manage tourist flows and strengthen infrastructure. She highlighted the new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism as a crucial tool for organized and sustainable spatial planning, grounded in the real capabilities of each area.
The strategy’s aim is to achieve spatial and temporal distribution of visitor traffic across the entire territory and throughout the year. A key component of this policy is the categorization of areas based on the intensity of the tourism phenomenon, considering the number of tourist beds relative to the area and permanent population of each Municipal Unit. This framework introduces rules and restrictions designed to protect already developed destinations while simultaneously promoting lesser-known areas with development potential.
Mrs. Kefalogianni also underscored the importance of utilizing and reusing existing building stock, noting that tourism significantly contributes to upgrading the city’s image, increasing investments, and improving infrastructure.
Concerning the resilience fee, the Minister emphasized the importance of its substantial return to local communities, drawing a parallel with the cruise fee, which already aids in managing tourist flows and strengthening municipalities.
Finally, the Minister of Tourism placed particular emphasis on developing specialized forms of tourism, especially mountain tourism. She noted that tackling seasonality remains a primary challenge for Greek tourism, and the Ministry’s objective is to bolster activity year-round through modern infrastructure and sustainable practices. She concluded by stating that future visitors will increasingly prioritize a destination’s environmental footprint and its sustainability policies.
