Study: Policies Needed to Protect Athens from Touristification

The urgent need for the municipality of Athens to formulate and implement a full-scope policy that will set the terms and conditions for business activity in the city center and in this way safeguard the capital from gentrification is the focus of a study released recently by the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen, and Merchants (GSEVEE).

Conducted by architect and urban planner Olga Balaoura, the study points to the rapidly changing urban environment of Athens due in large part to the increase in tourism and the emergence of international property companies which has driven property prices up impacting both the life of residents and the viability of businesses.

Indicatively, according to a study by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), the number of tourists to Athens by 2030 is expected to increase by 29 percent compared to 2019 (from 5.9 million to 7.7 million).

In her study, Balaoura underlines the importance of policies that take into consideration the new reality and the impact of tourism and gentrification. According to the study, local government must initially record the changes to the urban fabric and then based on the findings formulate policies that will support and strengthen local communities and businesses, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises usually family-owned, while ensuring a multi-operational and inclusive city center.

These policies should focus on:

– recording data concerning SMEs (sizes, sector, location, dynamics, financial data, networks, etc.) as well as classification of sector data and the creation of user-friendly digital platform for businesses

– regulating, setting conditions and limitations to the operation and development of activities and protecting land uses. This will regulate the development of residential, commercial, tourism-leisure, manufacturing, administration uses and specify sizes, scales, combinations of uses, saturation etc. The study suggests following the experience of the Barcelona municipality and its Special Urban Plan on Tourist Accommodation (PEUAT), which applies to four distinct zones with specific regulations aimed at achieving a sustainable mix of the tourism activity and preserving community life

– supporting SMEs through incentive programs by activating funding tools, pilot and upgrade schemes and ensuring their inclusion in the local economy

– ensuring that local governing bodies undertake the promotion and implementation of these policies. The study found that in Europe, the most effective implementation of such programs was carried out by local governments.

Lastly, Balaoura underlines the importance of setting up a consultation scheme that will include all stakeholders and operate in a transparent manner to the benefit of local economic development.