Mykonos

For the fifth year in a row, the island of Paros is first in the Cyclades in the number of new building permits, according to data from Greece's statistics agency published a week ago.

The presence of the Greek authorities on Mykonos to conduct inspections is necessary. However, the situation is not going to change substantially if the local community is not mobilized and if the local businesses do not realize the impasses created by anarchic development. 

It is also in their own interest to find and respect legal limits.

Despite promising signs for other parts of the country as regards the number of flights and seat bookings for the 2024 tourism season, Mykonos is seeing a decline in both indices for the second year in a row.

Last summer, Mykonos was prominently placed on the list of islands where legislation on use of the seashore was flouted. Despite the arrests and fines, and the tightening of the legal framework for arbitrary occupation of the seashore, violations continue unabated.

The figures so far show that this season will be exceptionally good for Greek tourism. However, this does not seem to be the case for Mykonos, which for the second consecutive year is showing that it will have fewer visitors.

Data show a fresh reduction, not only in bookings, but also in available airline seats.

With purchases of properties over 120 sq.m. in the regions of Attica and Thessaloniki, in Mykonos, Santorini and on islands with a population of over 3,000 inhabitants - The limit is 400,000 in the rest of Greece - Stricter conditions for Golden Visa - All changes for Airbnb rentals

Unlike nearby Mykonos, Andros is not a destination for glamourous celebs and wild partygoers

An increasing number of Greece's Aegean islands are following the model used - many say overused - on Mykonos and Santorini, both international tourism magnets. New construction springs up constantly, as for example on the island of Sifnos (photo), with homeowners increasingly coming from abroad.

A 200 million-euro investment for the development of a complex tourism accommodation with a six-star hotel in Agrari in Mykonos is being promoted by German-owned Southrock Property Company Eleven.

Southrock is the Greek subsidiary of the Otto business group based in Hamburg, Germany and is the operator of the investment.

The Environment Ministry is standing firm behind its decision to encourage construction outside zoning areas as the final draft of the new regulations will be put out for public consultation in the next few days, with minor variations, despite the outcry from the scientific community.