In a bid to combat the high tourist numbers, Greece is to introduce a new tax on cruise ship passengers on some of the country’s most popular islands. From July 1, a £17 (€20) fee per passenger will be levied on the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos.

This fee will be in place during the peak season between June 1 and September 30. In other Greek ports, the fee will be £4.26 (€5) per passenger during high season. Meanwhile in the shoulder season (April, May, October) it will be £2.56 (€3) per passenger and drops to 85p (€1) (October 1 to May 31) in the low season.

The tax is designed to help combat overtourism in Greece and in particular in Santorini and Mykonos.

On a particularly busy day last year, residents of Santorini were asked to limit their movements due to 17,000 visitors expected to arrive by cruise ship.

In a statement, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) said the levy will “help support the infrastructure of Greece’s most visited islands and ensure that local communities benefit more directly from cruise tourism”.

It added that the tax “reflects the need for a more sustainable balance between visitor numbers and the capacity of popular destinations like Santorini and Mykonos, while also helping to safeguard the quality of the visitor experience”.

The revenue generated from this tax will go towards supporting local infrastructure, mitigate the environmental impact of tourism, and contribute to efforts aimed at preserving the beauty and history of the islands.

It is currently unknown how the tax will be collected and whether it will be paid directly by the cruise lines or passengers themselves.

It is likely that the fee will be integrated into the overall cruise fare for passengers.

The intoduction of the levy marks a significant move in Greece combating the effects of overtourism and fostering more sustainable tourism practices.

A 30% decline in arrivals to Santorini has already been noted in the first six months of 2025.