Greece Launches Public Consultation for New Special Spatial Framework for Tourism

The Greek government recently launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism. The long-awaited new framework aims to guide the sustainable development of the tourism sector and address decades of distortions and irregularities.

The public consultation will run for over two months, ending on September 15.

According to a joint announcement by the environment and tourism ministries, the new plan places special emphasis on the challenges posed by the climate crisis and the circular economy, and it outlines the guidelines for tourism development.

“This is an important and long-awaited institutional framework for the State, local governments, and especially for the tourism market and investors,” stated Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

According to the minister, the framework, grounded in scientific research and international best practices, “will establish a solid and clear foundation for land use” in tourism development.

“It is set to become a cornerstone of our development policy, aiming in the long term to benefit the national economy and local communities,” she added.

Among other provisions, the new plan stipulates that the development of new tourist infrastructures in areas within the Natura 2000 network will be prohibited until management plans are established. Furthermore, tourist activities will be excluded from areas designated for absolute nature protection.

Tourist activities in areas governed by forestry legislation will be conducted in accordance with the conditions and limitations outlined in Article 49 of Law 998/1979, as applicable.

Measures to limit Airbnbs

Furthermore, the framework aims to restrict the number of short-term rental properties in popular tourism destinations and introduce a special green fee to finance renovations and tourism-supporting infrastructure. This fee will apply to hotels, short-term rentals, and rooms for let.

The plan categorizes Greece into five regions based on the spatial distribution of tourist accommodations:

Category A: Control Areas (overdeveloped)
Category B: Developed Areas
Category C: Developing Areas
Category D: Areas with development potential
Category E: Undeveloped Areas

The framework proposes limitations on the number of short-term rental properties and rooms for let in Control and Developed Areas, based on the total number of hotel beds.

The “Control Areas” encompass 18 municipal units, including entire islands or specific areas like Corfu, Zakynthos, Mykonos, Tinos, Santorini (Oia), and Kos (Irakleidon), known for high accommodation density. “Developed Areas” cover 84 municipal units, including areas in Thessaloniki, Athens, Attica, and other islands such as Corfu.

Additionally, the framework prohibits any tourism development on uninhabited islands, islands smaller than 300 stremma (approximately 74.13 acres), islands less than 10 nautical miles from Greece’s sea borders, and islands more than 10 nautical miles from coastal areas of the mainland or other accessible islands.

‘Sporadic hotels’

In addition, the plan introduces the concept of “sporadic hotels” into Greek tourism legislation, with provisions for establishing complex tourist accommodations in abandoned settlements predating 1923 or areas with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. This initiative, subject to legislative regulation, aims to revitalize these settlements either partially or entirely.

The new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism also includes measures to promote thematic forms of tourism alongside Greece’s traditional sun-and-sea tourism model, emphasizing high-quality accommodation.

Regarding the latter, the framework permits the development of new accommodations in the 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotel categories based on the saturation and carrying capacity of each municipal unit.

The new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism is complemented by the environment ministry’s Strategic Environmental Impact Study, which is also open for public consultation. This study proposes solutions and methods for implementing the framework, aiming to mitigate the anticipated impacts outlined in the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism.

The complete public consultation document can be accessed online here.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their feedback by September 15 via email to sec.dipa@prv.ypeka.gr and diavoulefsi.exp.tourismos@prv.ypeka.gr.