Tourism brings many opportunities, but overtourism is also putting pressure on housing, local communities and the quality of life in many European cities. In this interview, Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, Vice-President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, shares his experience and explains how cities can make tourism more sustainable while protecting the needs of local residents.
Tourism has long been seen as a driver of prosperity and growth. Yet in many cities and islands, overtourism is increasingly creating tensions between the needs of visitors and the quality of life of local residents. From your experience as Mayor of Athens, what unique role can cities play in managing tourism in a way that benefits both visitors and local communities?
Europe's cities must lead the transition from uncontrolled tourism growth to a more sustainable model of tourism. The warning signs are impossible to ignore. From Barcelona to Athens, local communities are under increasing pressure. Housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable, historic neighbourhoods are losing their identity, and the quality of everyday life is at risk. Athens has successfully transformed into a vibrant, year-round international destination, welcoming more than 8 million visitors every year. This did not happen by chance. We invested in culture, major international events and authentic neighbourhood experiences. However, while our city bears the daily costs of this success, it receives virtually none of the revenues. Visitors pay a city tax of up to €10 per night, yet the Municipality of Athens receives €0 from it. At the same time, local governments in Greece receive just 2.7% of the national budget, despite the pressing needs of climate change, overtourism and social housing. Athens cannot operate as a giant hotel. Economic growth and social justice must go hand in hand.
Athens has introduced bold measures, including restricting new hotel developments in saturated areas, expanding social housing, creating a dedicated office to renovate underused buildings and calling for stronger regulation of short-term rentals. Which of these policies has had the greatest impact, and what lessons can other European cities learn from Athens?
The greatest impact has not come from a single measure, but from changing the way we make decisions. Before regulating, we chose to measure. Through the Athens Sustainable Tourism Observatory, we updated our Tourism Carrying Capacity Study and now monitor tourism pressure across all the city’s neighbourhoods using real data rather than assumptions. The findings are clear. Almost 60% of all tourist beds in the Municipality of Athens are concentrated in the 1st Municipal District, while 14 neighbourhoods have already reached saturation levels. This evidence allowed us to move from reacting to problems to preventing them through targeted actions. For example, we established a dedicated Task Force office for the historic Plaka district to protect its unique character from over-commercialization. No hotels are allowed in Plaka and we monitor the situation. Based on the same data, we introduced restrictions on short-term rentals in saturated areas, expanded affordable housing initiatives, and established an office to bring underused buildings back into use.
Local leaders are ready to act, but they cannot solve overtourism alone. What should the European Union do to better support cities in securing affordable housing, promoting sustainable tourism and giving local authorities the powers they need to act?
Europe cannot ask cities to solve the housing and overtourism crisis without giving them the tools to act. Today, local governments are expected to manage the consequences, but they are rarely given the power or the resources to prevent them. Housing cannot be treated as just another financial product; it is a fundamental social right. First, the EU should provide direct funding to cities for affordable housing, urban regeneration and public infrastructure, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and recognising municipalities as strategic partners. Second, Europe needs full transparency from short-term rental platforms. Municipalities should have access to real-time, property-level data so that local rules can be enforced effectively and fairly. Third, cities need greater legal autonomy. Local authorities must be able to regulate short-term rentals, suspend hotel permits in saturated areas and adapt planning rules to local needs without facing unnecessary legal barriers. Strong cities make a stronger Europe. If we want sustainable tourism, affordable housing and resilient communities, we must trust local government with both the responsibility and the means to act.