Cruise passengers arriving in Santorini and Mykonos will soon be expected pay a little more for the privilege of visiting the popular Greek islands with the introduction of new fee likely to be implemented by next summer. The Greek government announced the €20 (approximately $30) levy as a means to help manage the strain on the destinations due to a surge in visitors.

The move is the latest attempt by locales (primarily in Europe) to mitigate the effects of overtourism, which affect local infrastructure and sustainability, and increasingly anger many residents.

Additionally, the number of cruise ships at popular Greek ports will be limited or selectively chosen based such factors as size and environmental attributes.

Announced on the weekend, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, “We have been very concerned (about) the image that exists on some of our islands regarding cruising during certain months of the year.”

And while Mitsotakis said not all Greek islands suffer the same issue as Santorini and Mykonos, other islands, such as Rhodes, Corfu, and Heraklion (Crete), are expected to have fees introduced as well.

Greek officials recognize that there will be ramifications for the cruise industry, which notably often plans itineraries years in advance.

 More than eight million cruise passengers are expected to visit Greek ports in 2024, a 20% increase over last year.