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Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Popular Greek island flooded with tourists abandoned for key reason
Visitor numbers to one of Greece's most iconic islands - known for its blue-domed buildings and stunning beaches - have taken a sharp slump, in what could be a huge blow for the country's economy It seems Brits are finally turning their back on one of the most desirable holiday hotspots in Greece, following years of soaring demand. Last year, a staggering 3.4 million visitors flocked to the tiny island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. Famed for its blue-domed buildings, syrup-like sunsets, and stunning beaches, the Cyclades isle has become one of the most popular destinations in the world. But measuring in at just 29.4 square miles, and with a permanent population of only 15,000 - Santorini's tourist boom has been met with fierce backlash. Images posting on social media reveal just how insufferably busy and crowded the island has gotten in recent years, worsened by the coach loads of tourists herded off giant cruise ships during the peak summer season. The unsustainable influx has resulted in calls to half construction on the island, with mayor Nikos Zorzos arguing: "We don't need any more hotels or any more rented rooms. If you destroy the landscape, one as rich as ours, you destroy the very reason people come here in the first place." READ MORE: Major Spanish city where curfew rules are in place and what it means for Brits However, it seems like tourist numbers are sharply falling this year, and not because of anti-tourist sentiment. "In Santorini, available airline seats are down 26 per cent from the beginning of the year to date," president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Yannis Paraschis, said. "But the indications we have in terms of supply of seats are down in the range of seven to eight per cent for the summer, so we expect a result with losses of 10-15 per cent." The slump is being blamed on recent earthquake activity, which caused thousands of tremors on the island. Back in February, Greek authorities declared a state of emergency on the island, while almost 15,000 people fled their homes. As previously reported, a 4.6-magnitude quake struck the sea between Santorini and Amorgos at 8.16pm local time, followed by a 4.2-magnitude tremor roughly two hours later. The shocks come after a powerful 5.2-magnitude earthquake rattled the region earlier that week, the strongest recorded so far. Speaking to Euronews, president of the Santorini hoteliers Antonis Pagoni warned the falling figures could wreak havoc on Greece's economy. "Right now we are moving at -25 to -30 per cent," he said. "It's a huge reduction in a destination like Santorini that attracts more than three million visitors." Antonis argued that holidays to Santorini account for around 10 per cent of Greek tourism - which generated a whopping €21.6 billion (approx £18.39 billion) in revenue last year, a 12.8 per cent increase compared to 2023. "We are not sure if Greece can afford to lose that revenue," he added. The FCDO does not currently warn against visiting Greece, but does refer to earthquakes under its 'Safety and Security' page'. "The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025," it states. "This increase has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual." The government body advises tourists to familiarise themselves with 'safety procedures' in case they are caught up in a tremor. "Follow the advice given by the local authorities [and] call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger," it stated.
Metro
01-05-2025
- Metro
Your favourite Greek islands that aren't Santorini or Mykonos
Azure waters, bombshell beaches, charming fishing villages, and traditional tavernas. We're talking, of course, about Greece, the holiday hotspot blessed with a Mediterranean climate and over 250 days of sunshine a year. The European country, which boasts around 6,000 islands, has long been a top summer destination for British holidaymakers. In 2024, Greece welcomed 4.5 million visitors from the UK, with many flocking to popular choices such as Santorini and Mykonos. However, both islands have recently been feeling the effects of overtourism. In 2024, a new tourist tax was introduced for cruise ship passengers, charging a levy of €20 (£16.88) each for disembarking during peak summer. The money is invested back into local infrastructure. Last year, the mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, warned that high tourist numbers coupled with a construction boom could 'destroy' the island. This is on top of the recent earthquakes that saw thousands evacuate over safety concerns. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. To promote sustainable tourism, we asked Metro readers to tell us about their favourite Greek islands that aren't the old reliables. Who doesn't love to broaden their travel horizons, anyway? Pauline Johnson Wallis shared fond memories of Agistri, an island about an hour by boat from the Greek capital Athens. Known for world-class beaches and water sports, it's been described as one of Greece's last hidden paradises. Pauline wrote: 'I used to go every year back in the 90s. Still remember that amazing feeling of arriving at this tiny island early morning, bags were put in the back of a trunk. Accommodation was basic but clean, locals were brilliant and there was nothing to do but eat, drink and enjoy.' Elsewhere, Antoaneta Pateva's recent trip to Thassos, the northernmost major Greek island in the Aegean Sea, made a lasting impression. She raved about the 'green, golden, and marble beaches,' as well as mountainous areas lush with olive trees. 'Simple, beautiful and not overcrowded, and extremely fresh air,' she wrote. For Paul Bassett, Carole Willans, and plenty of others, Skiathos was a winner. Susan Buckland also enjoyed her time there, but described the landing as 'hair-raising.' This writer can confirm the latter to be true, but at the same time, it's a truly incredible descent. The tiny airport sits in the middle of the Aegean Ocean, with unspoiled views of the Sporades islands as you land. In July 2024, I flew to Skiathos on the way to Skopelos. I remember seeing a mixture of tiny fishing boats and luxury yachts bobbing up and down on the water, sometimes getting so close that you could see people popping champagne on the deck. Speaking of Skopelos, many don't realise that the craggy island served as the filming location of Mamma Mia!, the 2008 musical rom-com based on the songs of ABBA. Its beautiful neighbour, Skiathos – which is also grappling with the effects of overtourism – often mistakenly gets the recognition instead. However, Skopelos is a 37sqm patch of paradise, with verdant hills, turquoise water and ancient history. Embroidered with golden beaches, traditional domed churches and whitewashed villages, it still feels like a land that time forgot. Metro's Alice Murphy is a regular on the island of Lefkada, which she describes as 'Greece's best-kept secret.' Alice writes: 'Nicknamed the 'Greek Caribbean' for its iridescent ocean and superstar beaches, Lefkada's mythic past tells of tragic figures throughout the ages who threw themselves from the rugged heights to the depths of the sea. 'These tales have been rejected by historians, but their romantic allure still adds mystique to the lush green hills and lunar white sands that make Lefkada the most unique – and perhaps most unspoiled – of the seven jewels known as the Ionian islands.' Read the full report here. Meanwhile, Deborah Shepherd described Kefalonia and Corfu as 'beautiful,' while Kate Johnson agreed, revealing that she's been to the former over 25 times. Jim Bischoff favoured Euboea (Evia), Greece's second largest island but one that's not widely known. Tracy Robinson declared Faliraki a 'beautiful place.' Rhodes, Hydra and Crete, Greece's largest island, were other locations that got plenty of mentions. Jim Turburfield said you 'only have to go to Crete once to fall in love,' while Sharon Woodward praised the Platenes area. She said: 'It's lovely. Not far from Rethymnon which has a great amount of shops and restaurants. Amazing beach.' Granted, Crete is one of the most popular islands next to Santorini and Mykonos, but its size allows it to cope with the influx of visitors it receives. Earlier this month, Metro's Eleanor Noyce reported that Jet2 had launched numerous UK routes to the underrated island of Samos. She writes: 'Inundated with golden sands, ancient ruins and fine wine, the little-known Greek island of Samos might not be as popular as Mykonos or Crete – but it's certainly considerably quieter.' Read Eleanor's deep dive into Samos and how to get there here. From experience, I can also vouch for Crete. An Instagrammer's dream, everywhere you turn, you're met with breathtaking landscapes. Balos lagoon is a gem that's well worth visiting. Lying on the western coast, the beach is famed for turquoise waters, wild natural beauty, and exotic scenery. It's common to see sheep roaming the beach, migrating down from the surrounding mountains. For the 'world's best beach,' head to Elafonissi on the southwestern side of the island. In 2025, Tripadvisor's annual Traveller's Choice Awards gave the beach this title thanks to its unique pink sands and crystal-clear waters. A word of warning: The Greek government declared the area a nature reserve and prohibited pocketing any of the sand as a keepsake. Finally, if you've ever listened to Joni Mitchell's Carey, from the classic 1971 album Blue, chances are, you'll have wondered where the 'Matala moon' is. Back in the 1960s when the hippy era was in full swing, a heartbroken Joni travelled to Greece with her friend, Penelope. There she found a community of backpacking hippies who had settled in the sleepy fishing village of Matala, claiming the ancient man-made caves surrounding the beach as their home. The caves are well preserved today, as is the Bohemian, free-spirited lifestyle. Hydra is a beautiful Greek island known for its creative community. Back in the 60s, it attracted an artistic crowd including Leonard Cohen and his muse, Marianne Ihlen. One of the Saronic Islands, Hydra is known for tranquillity by day and a thriving party scene by night. The port is brimming with bars, restaurants and traditional tavernas, while the car-free town makes it easy to stroll around. For those into history, there's the Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion, which showcases the life of a wealthy Greek shipping magnate who supported the Greek Revolution. For adrenaline junkies, Hydra has plenty of perfect hiking trails, including a popular route to Profitis Ilias Monastery. And for sun worshippers, there are immaculate beaches such as Saint Nicholas, Avlaki, and Kaminia. All cultured out after a trip to Greece's capital, Athens? A visit to the island of Evia is the perfect way to wind down. There are two ways to reach Evia from Athens: by car, which takes just under two hours, or by ferry. The latter journey takes one hour from either Rafina Port or Agios Konstantinos Port. More Trending Once you arrive, explore ancient ruins, wander through the historic city of Chalkida, or relax in the natural Thermal Springs of Edipsos, known for their healing properties. Because it's Greece, expect paradise beaches, too. Popular hotspots, where you can swim in the clear waters and lounge on the sandy beaches, include Chiliadou, Kalamos, Thapsa and Pefki. During the evenings, hit up one of the many tavernas and indulge in classic Greek cuisine. Devour everything from aromatic local greens, fresh fish, gyros or lamb kleftiko, while sipping on a carafe – or two – of wine. Dreamy. MORE: Can the £15 Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag really handle a weekend trip away? MORE: Two 'stunning' destinations get new flight routes from major UK airport MORE: Full list of cancelled flights after power outage plunges Spain and Portugal into darkness
The Guardian
06-02-2025
- The Guardian
State of emergency declared on Santorini after earthquakes shake island
Greek civil protection authorities have declared a state of emergency on Santorini after hundreds of undersea earthquakes shook the resort island for nearly a week. The emergency measures, declared by the island's town hall, come hours after seismologists recorded a 5.2 magnitude earthquake – the most powerful tremor to be felt on Santorini since the first of an estimated 7,700 temblors were registered last week. The measures, which are expected to see the army take a more active role in crisis management, will be in effect until 3 March when the orthodox nation marks the beginning of Lent. 'It's what we need to deal with this situation and we requested that it be enforced,' said Santorini's mayor, Nikos Zorzos. With experts speaking of a geological phenomenon that could last weeks, fatigued locals continued to leave the island with ever more likening the exodus to 'an unofficial mass evacuation'. Over 12,000 people have fled by boat and plane since the barrage of tremors intensified at the weekend with few tourists now believed to be on the island. By Thursday Santorini's main hilltop settlement - the biggest draw on an island that attracted 3.5 million tourists last year - resembled a ghost town, its shops shuttered, its narrow streets tapered off by police fearing ever more rock slides. Government officials said the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, would also be visiting the island on Friday in what was described as 'a show of solidarity'. Others said the move also underscored just how serious the situation now is. Late on Thursday trucks could be seen disembarking from ferries loaded with generators. In a further sign of emergency services being relocated to the island, it was announced that social workers and psychologists would also be dispatched to Santorini. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Experts are divided as to whether last night's 5.2 magnitude earthquake is a precursor to a much more powerful tremor – one that could trigger a tsunami - or a sign that the seismic build-up is on the wane. 'We are not yet in a position to say that we are seeing any evidence that would lead to the sequence slowly coming to a conclusion,' Vassilis K. Karastathis, a seismologist and director of research at the National Observatory of Athens, told reporters. 'We are still in the middle of the road, we haven't seen any easing, any sign that it's heading towards a regression.'
Chicago Tribune
04-02-2025
- Chicago Tribune
As hundreds of quakes rattle Greek islands, a few brave tourists have Santorini to themselves
SANTORINI, Greece — The hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled Greek islands on the Aegean Sea are a 'seismic swarm' and could continue for weeks before eventually diminishing, the Santorini mayor told The Associated Press on Tuesday — pausing to chuckle as new tremors shook items on his desk. 'This phenomenon may play out with small quakes or a single, slightly stronger one, followed by gradual subsidence,' said Mayor Nikos Zorzos, adding he was cautiously optimistic after speaking to seismologists who described the swarm as a series of tremors of similar magnitude occurring in clusters. Thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left the Cycladic Islands as quakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday. Ferry and commercial flight operators have added services to accommodate departures. More Greek islands closed schools Tuesday. A handful of hardy tourists enjoyed having Santorini's stunning views to themselves. Santorini earlier canceled public events, restricted travel to the island and banned construction work in certain areas. The quakes have caused cracks in some older buildings, but no injuries have been reported. Efthimios Lekkas, head of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said the epicenter of the earthquakes in the Aegean was moving northward away from Santorini, and emphasized there was no connection to the area's dormant volcanoes. 'This may last several days or several weeks. We are not able to predict the evolution of the sequence in time,' Lekkas told state-run television. In Santorini's main town, Fira, the narrow, whitewashed streets along the island's clifftops were deserted — a rare sight even in the off-season — except for small pockets of tour groups, many from Asian countries. Joseph Liu, from Guangzhou in southern China, said he had wanted to visit Santorini for years after seeing it in a documentary. 'This place is amazing, really beautiful,' he said, adding that the tour group leader had told him and others about the quakes before they arrived, 'so it was not a surprise.' Retired police officer and ship worker Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou, who has lived on Santorini for more than three decades, said he has turned down offers to stay with relatives in Athens. 'Older residents are used to the earthquakes … But it's different this time. It's not the same to have earthquakes every two to three minutes. The main thing is not to worry,' he said, adding with a laugh: 'Now we can listen to music alone and have coffee by ourselves.'
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Greek island Santorini evacuated after earthquakes shake tourist destination
Hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled the Greek islands since last week have prompted the evacuation of thousands from the tourist hotspot Santorini. Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos told The Associated Press that the tremors are a "seismic swarm" and could continue for weeks before eventually diminishing. "This phenomenon may play out with small quakes or a single, slightly stronger one, followed by gradual subsidence," Zorzos said, adding he was cautiously optimistic after speaking to seismologists. More than 200 undersea earthquakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday. Emergency Crews Deployed On Santorini As Earthquake Swarm Worries Greek Experts Roughly 9,000 people have left Santorini since Sunday, with more emergency flights and ferries adding services to accommodate departures, the BBC reported. Read On The Fox News App Santorini has canceled public events, restricted travel to the island and banned construction work in certain areas. The quakes have caused cracks in some older buildings, but no injuries have been reported. The island has a population of approximately 15,500 residents. Earthquake Off Coast Of Maine Shakes Northeast Efthimios Lekkas, head of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said the epicenter of the earthquakes in the Aegean was moving northward away from Santorini, and emphasized there was no connection to the area's dormant volcanoes. Click To Get The Fox News App "This may last several days or several weeks. We are not able to predict the evolution of the sequence in time," Lekkas told state-run television. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Greek island Santorini evacuated after earthquakes shake tourist destination
