Santorini Hoteliers Submit Proposals for New Special Spatial Framework for Tourism

Santorini, Greece. Photo source: Santorini Hoteliers Association

Participating in the  public dialogue, initiated by Greece’s Ministry of Tourism on the “Special Spatial Framework for Tourism”, Santorini’s Hoteliers Association announced several proposals, along the lines aired in the past concerning the Santorini Special City Plan and the Special Urban Planning for the island.

In the new announcement, the Association refers to the island being a top tourist destination while also facing a number of problems regarding mostly the lack of infrastructures and expensive housing. It also refers to “unregulated construction” which downgrades the quality and the traditional architectural identity of Santorini.

The Hoteliers Association numbers 17 proposals, including:

-The limitation of beds in new tourist accommodations to up to 100, or 50 rooms, within our beyond City Planning areas, in accordance with the “size” of the island.

-All construction in areas beyond City Planning should be limited to 8 percent and a maximum of up to 10 percent as the “building to plot ratio” and a total of up to 3,000 square meters for tourist facilities.

-No new hotels should be constructed beyond the City Plan until the new Spatial Framewor for Tourism goes into effect.

-An industrial park should be established at Monolithos, so all industrial/production units will be located within its limits.

-Agricultural areas should be protected and mostly the vineyards,with the visitor experience not limited to the hotel, taverna or the beach, etc.

-All housing developments, especially traditional villages, should be protected and specific construction standards should be announced. Emborio, Megalochori and Pyrgos are characteristic examples.

-Caldera, a unique area should be subject to special treatment. For places like Oia, Fira and Imerovigli construction standards should be defined carefully.

-Hotels should be allowed to add construction beyond their factor limit and within their plots for the sole reason of providing housing to their employees. This will solve the employee housing problem. Hotels should also be obliged to establish parking areas for their customers.

-Modern architecture buildings should not be constructed in traditional villages. Traditional housing development should not be allowed to expand.

-Short-term leasing should not be allowed without the National Tourism Organization’s special signage. Only a specific percentage of houses in the villages may be allowed to be rented for short terms, so as to not change the social profile of the local communities.

-Houses should not be allowed to change status and be rented in the short lease market.

-In the traditional villages all architectural features and all auxiliary infrastructure and equipment should be in accordance with the traditional architecture and permits should be required for any addition, such as tents or pergolas.

-Vehicles should not be allowed to enter traditional villages, but park on their periphery. Professional suppliers’ vehicles should be allowed to enter only during specific hours.

-The new Spatial Framework should include planning for the new commercial and passenger ports of the island, a solid waste management area and a new teleferic line.

-The berth allocation system should be immediately go into effect, especially at the port at Fira, and a time slot system should be adopted for the Oia and Fira areas.

-A Destination Management Organizaton (DMO) should be created to manage the tourist product, the image and the tourist flows of Santorini.

– The application of the Strategic Planning for Santorini, as announced by prime minister Mitsotakis in June 2020, allowing for new infrastructures on the island, especially that of a new port, should go into effect as soon as possible.

The memorandum submitted by the Santorini Hoteliers Association, signed by its president, Antonis Pagonis,  makes  further detailed references to the City Planning schedule and to short term rentals, with specific requests. The public dialogue for the new Spatial Framework for Tourism, ends on September 15.