Greece has issued a plea for "no more tourism" as the picturesque city of Athens is swamped with British holidaymakers. The Greek capital has been the scene of angry protests due to the increasing issue of over-tourism.
The anti-tourist sentiment has manifested in various forms including graffiti targeting foreigners, demonstrations mourning the loss of local neighbourhoods, and even instances of vandalism and arson. During a protest last week, demonstrators chanted: "They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives".
Anna Theodorakis, a local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, told France24: "I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes. It is very depressing." You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Ms Theodorakis expressed her concern over the rising number of Airbnbs, stating that they were "wiping out the traditional places" and lamenting that she felt like "a foreigner in my own country". Dimitri, a property developer converting a former warehouse into Airbnbs, conceded that the overtourism was detrimental to the city.
He commented: "Eighty percent of this neighborhood are Airbnbs. Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won't want to come.", reports Birmingham Live.
This comes as Brits whose holidays were cut short by the Rhodes wildfires last year could potentially secure a free week's holiday on the sun-drenched island.
In an attempt to lure tourists back, Greece's tourism authorities are offering a complimentary week-long stay on the island of Rhodes, as part of the 'Rodos Week' initiative. Those who were registered on the evacuation lists during the fires are being provided with an e-voucher for a hotel stay similar to their previous accommodation.
The value of the voucher can range from €300-€500, depending on the category of the hotel.
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