Greece Set to Join Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Scotland and More in Slapping Cruise Travelers With New Tourist Tax to Tackle Overtourism

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Greece is set to join Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Scotland, and other destinations in imposing a new tourist tax on cruise travelers, aiming to combat overtourism and protect its most overcrowded islands starting this July. With surging cruise arrivals putting immense pressure on hotspots like Santorini and Mykonos, the Greek government is introducing this fee not only to manage visitor flow but also to fund vital infrastructure upgrades, improve port facilities, and support sustainable tourism across the country’s coastal regions.

Greece Rolls Out Cruise Passenger Levy Starting July

Beginning July 1, Greece will introduce a new tourist tax specifically targeting cruise travelers disembarking at its ports. The fee, passed under Law Five Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Two of Twenty Twenty-Four, is designed to ease the burden of overtourism on popular destinations like Santorini and Mykonos while funding major upgrades to local and national infrastructure.

The amount charged will vary based on the location and volume of cruise arrivals, with higher rates imposed on the country’s busiest ports. Revenues will be invested in port modernization, tourism infrastructure, and environmental protection.

High-Level Backing From Greek Government

The measure is backed by both the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy and the Ministry of Tourism. During a joint meeting in Athens, Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Minister Olga Kefalogianni outlined the country’s broader cruise strategy in discussions with CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Executive Chairman Bud Darr.

A New Cruise Management Task Force

To ensure the smooth rollout of the new tax, the government and CLIA agreed to form a joint working group. The task force will establish protocols for counting cruise passengers, setting up payment mechanisms, and notifying cruise companies about their obligations.

It will also explore long-term strategies like introducing visitor caps during peak periods, refining traffic management, and extending the cruise season to reduce congestion.

Shifting Toward Sustainable Cruise Tourism

Tourism Minister Kefalogianni stated that Greece’s long-term goal is to reshape the cruise industry model. Instead of focusing on large-volume ships visiting overcrowded destinations, the government aims to attract smaller, premium vessels and spread tourism benefits to lesser-known islands.

She emphasized the importance of diversifying cruise routes and balancing economic development with community well-being.

Global Movement Toward Cruise Tourist Taxes

Greece now joins a growing list of countries that have adopted similar cruise taxes to manage the rapid rise in cruise tourism:

Bahamas: Passengers pay around thirty dollars per visit, which includes a tourist enhancement fee and an environmental tax.Mexico: Initially set to charge forty-two dollars, Mexico revised its fee to five dollars starting July 2025, rising incrementally to twenty-one dollars by 2028.Jamaica: Continues to charge a two-dollar per passenger fee to fund local development and port upgrades.Netherlands: Imposes a cruise tax on travelers staying on docked ships.Italy, Spain, France: Cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Marseille levy their own cruise fees to combat overcrowding and fund tourism-related services.Scotland: Proposals are underway to introduce per-passenger cruise levies in places like the Highlands and Orkney Islands.Greece Launches Marine Tourism Observatory

To support long-term sustainability, Greece has also launched the Observatory for Coastal and Marine Tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean, in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization. This initiative will collect real-time data on the environmental, economic, and social impacts of cruise tourism across the region.

Insights from the observatory will inform future tourism planning, allowing Greece to make data-driven decisions to maintain a balanced and resilient tourism economy.

A Balanced Approach to Welcoming Cruise Visitors

Rather than closing its ports or severely limiting arrivals, Greece is taking a measured approach—welcoming cruise travelers while requiring a financial contribution that supports the destinations they visit.

This model not only eases the burden on infrastructure and residents but also ensures that cruise tourism remains viable and sustainable in the long run. As international travel surges once again, the Greek government is setting a precedent: travel is welcome, but it must be responsible.

Greece will join Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Scotland in introducing a new tourist tax on cruise travelers starting this July to combat overtourism and fund critical upgrades in its busiest island destinations. The move aims to ease pressure on overcrowded ports like Santorini and Mykonos while supporting sustainable tourism development nationwide.

What Cruise Travelers Should Expect

Cruise passengers planning to visit Greece after July 1 should expect to pay a modest fee, depending on their port of entry. The charge will be included in their travel package or billed through their cruise operator.

While the fee may seem minor, it marks a major shift in how Greece—and many other countries—manage the costs and consequences of large-scale cruise tourism.