New Tourism Spatial Planning Bill Divides Greece into Zones

A previously announced spatial planning bill to be tabled in parliament divides the country into five zones based on saturation levels and sets development limits.

More specifically, the new Special Spatial Planning Framework presented by To Vima, places 17 areas in the “red-saturated” zone due to oversaturation and prohibits new construction activity within city limits for areas in the “controlled” zone. The new regulations also include 84 areas in the “developed” zone which means that restrictions on construction also apply.

Indicatively, areas listed in the “saturated-controlled” zone (red) include Pieria beach, Skiathos, Corfu, Zakynthos, Ermoupoli (Syros), Santorini, Eastern Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes (Afantou, Ialyssos, Kallithea), Southern Tinos, Malia and Hersonissos (Heraklion) and Nea Kydonia (Chania), where tourism infrastructure construction within the city plan is banned. Construction of new hotels (4 and 5 stars) is permitted outside the plan, with the minimum required area set at 3.9 acres. If the area is designated as Natura, then new construction is only permitted under certain terms and conditions.

The same rules apply for areas in the “developed” zone (blue) with the only difference being the minimum set area for new hotels constructions is 2.9 acres.

Construction of 3-, 4- or 5-star hotel units is allowed in areas listed in the “developing” zone (light blue).

Construction in areas listed in the “mild development-supported” zone (green) includes the provision of incentives for more favorable building conditions and is aimed at the development of special forms of tourism and the utilization of abandoned settlements.

And lastly, investments in areas listed in the “selective special support” zone (grey) will be able to utilize incentives for the construction of new tourism units under certain conditions.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

Earlier this month, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said the new spatial planning framework would be finalized in the first quarter of 2024. The aim, she said, is to create the conditions for a more sustainable tourism product.

“We are working rigorously and with a detailed plan to lay strong foundations for the future of Greek tourism and to create today the conditions for a new round of development focusing on sustainability,” she said.