The blight of the Cyclades

The discussion has been ongoing for some time now. It started right after the first Covid lockdown was lifted, in reaction to the leap in the price of ferry and airline tickets, as well as in the cost of accommodation, which together suddenly pushed a significant section of the Greek population onto the sidelines - meaning they could no longer afford a decent holiday on a Greek island.

In the years that followed, local communities have been growing increasingly frustrated and vocal as they watch their islands being transformed: the massive rise in tourist numbers (stemming from so-called revenge tourism) quickly brought popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini to their knees and saw them appearing in the international literature and media as an example of the overtourism phenomenon. More and more islands in the Cyclades cluster followed suit, with the rest of the...