By Illias Bellos for kathimerini
Greece is introducing a new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism, setting stricter limits on development in heavily visited destinations while offering incentives for less-developed areas, according to a draft plan presented by authorities.
The framework divides the country into five categories, with Category A imposing the toughest controls on saturated locations including Mykonos, Santorini, Skiathos and parts of Rhodes, Zakynthos and Crete.
In these areas, new tourist accommodations are capped at 100 beds, roughly 50 rooms, and must meet higher environmental standards. Local planning rules with stricter terms will override the national framework.
The plan aims to set long- and medium-term goals for tourism development while safeguarding natural and cultural resources under sustainability criteria. It seeks to fill a regulatory gap that has persisted since 2012.
Additional measures include minimum plot sizes of 1.6 hectares for hotels in controlled zones, mandatory carrying-capacity assessments, and a special fee supporting the Green Fund. Short-term rentals may also face restrictions.
Separate rules apply to islands, coastal zones and protected Natura areas, where construction near shorelines is banned and tourism must align with approved management plans.
Less-developed categories allow larger capacities and broader hotel classes, alongside incentives for upgrading existing units, reusing traditional buildings and promoting low-impact tourism such as glamping.
Authorities are also eyeing priority urban planning, destination management schemes and sustainable mobility strategies.
In underdeveloped and high-support areas, policies focus on activating tourism potential through investment incentives and flexible building terms, particularly in rural and mountainous communities.
The framework establishes a nationwide structure balancing growth with environmental protection and regional development priorities, officials said.
