Santorini

The French Press Agency (AFP) addresses the issue of overtourism on Santorini, Greece’s “Instagram island,” which has now reached a point of saturation.

The recent mission by the Aegean Rebreath organization to clear the seabed off the island of Santorini collected 800 kilos of abandoned fishing nets, 406 potentially recyclable materials, 28 car tires and 30 items of clothing.

Overtourism is becoming an increasingly worrisome reality for Greece. A country that, to a large extent, depends on the tourist industry does not have the luxury of turning a blind eye and continuing down the slippery slope we are witnessing.

A 40-year-old French woman who was competing in the Aegean 600 regatta died in a sailing accident on Monday night off the coast of the island of Kasos.

According to preliminary reports on Tuesday, the woman was thrown into the water as gale-force winds whipped up swells as high as 2 meters in the area.

The popular island of Santorini, which is already a globally negative example of an oversaturated destination, is being gradually covered by buildings, making an already difficult situation untenable.

"The surface of the island covered with buildings reaches 20%, which is higher than that of Attica," said Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos in comments to Kathimerini.

The maritime exhibition "Crafts of the Sea: Cycladic Culture and History" opened last week at the Goethe Institute of Athens. The lower level of the building has been transformed into a multimedia exhibit featuring photos, maps, videos, and audio clips that showcase the maritime traditions of five Cycladic islands: Amorgos, Paros, Santorini, Syros, and Koufonisia.

Mykonos and Santorini are the two crown jewels of Greek tourism. But both of these top destinations are going through a major crisis. 

A 47-year-old foreigner, who was arrested as soon as he landed at Thera airport in the early hours of Monday morning, will spend his holiday in the cell of the Ermoupolis Security Department in Syros, where he was planning to spend his holidays in Santorini, as he was an internationally wanted man.

A 47-year-old foreign national, wanted on a European arrest warrant for money laundering, was arrested in the island of Santorini early Monday morning. 

Officers from the Thira Police Subdirectorate apprehended the suspect at Santorini Airport. 

According to French authorities, the man is accused of managing illegal funds through a company he established. 

A multimedia maritime exhibition, Crafts of the Sea, will open for the first time in Athens at the Goethe Institute Athens from July 4 to September 21.