The site is seeing a 70% increase in visitors since last year.
Like many other European destinationssuch as Croatia ’s Dubrovnik , the Hellenic capital of Athens has recently become the latestvictim of overtourism . Specifically , it is Athens ' iconic Acropolis that this summer is counting record visitors on its grounds , and the Hellenic assurance have already place in motion a new plan to both assist preserve the site and keep visitors safe .
Lonely Planetreports the Acropolis currently welcome close to 17,000 casual visitor , which is a 70 % increase since last summer . compare to 2019 touristry level , visits in June and former July are up by 80 % , Lina Mendoni , the country ’s refinement minister , announced last week .
The impressive surge in visitors is surely to be assign to the end of pandemic restrictions , but that is n’t the only divisor . Lysandros Tsilidis of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Tourist and Travel Agencies toldThe Guardian’sObserverthat large cruise ship are to blame as well .
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" In the past , these sail ship had the capacity to bear a few thousand , the population of a tumid settlement , " Tsilidis said . " Now the vessels are so enceinte you ’ve got the size of a small land on board , and at least 30 pct of all of those passengers will have pre - buy ticket to visit the Acropolis . "
To work the event — or at least alleviate it — Mendoni is implementing an hourly time time slot system for those who pre - buy online tickets to the Acropolis , as well as electronic scanning of tickets and freestanding entry points for bombastic organize radical . For now , there is no cap on ticket sale , but whether that will be introduced as a insurance policy in the close futurity is unclear .
Visiting has been physically problematical for tourists , too . Due to a heat wave that is currently affecting Southern Europe , temperatures in Athens have attain 109 ° F this week , and are n’t require to lower much for at least another week or so . grant to Grecian authorities , sun tad will be installed at the Acropolis before the weekend for visitors waiting in telephone line , and the Red Cross will stay on the grounds to distribute water and assist those put up from heat enfeeblement .
