New Study On Athens’ Tourism Carrying Capacity

The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) has commenced a study into the tourism carrying capacity of Athens in a new partnership with the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA).

WTACH will set the parameters and guide the research, which is being carried out in cooperation with the University of Piraeus' Department of Tourism Studies.

The objective is to raise awareness of the tourism carrying capacity of greater Athens, especially in peak season, with the view to easing pressure on the city’s urban infrastructure and better spreading the benefits of tourism, both geographically and throughout the year.

Pre-Covid, multiple cruise ships often arrived on the same day in peak season. Localized spikes in tourism numbers, not just from cruise passengers, have the potential to compromise the ability of Athens to provide sustainable, safe, and accessible tourism experiences, throughout the city, which is known for world-famous attractions such as the Acropolis, National Archeology Museum, the Roman Agora, and the Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods.

The research will canvas the opinions of local residents groups, local tourism-related associations, relevant business leaders, and civil servants.

Depending on the outcomes, the findings may be useful as a tool to lobby political leaders to secure improved tourism management policies.

Mr. Vangelis Vlachos, CEO of ADDMA, said that the study will provide vital empirical data showing the impact of the visitor economy on the Greek capital. The research would also give the city an “important new destination management tool”.

For more information, please visit: wtach.org