The Government of Greece has taken measures against the excess of daily visits by tourists to the Acropolis of Athens. The Greek executive confirms that these limitations are due to the amount of criticism recently received that pointed to the deterioration of the national historical heritage.
In this way, decisions have been made in which they will limit the daily number of visits and set a maximum time per visit, in order to avoid bottlenecks and crowds of tourists in the architectural and sculptural complex known as World Heritage by UNESCO. unesco
The new plan will come into force in September and visits will be reduced to 20,000 per day. Likewise, the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, has indicated that “the measure will address the need to protect the monument, which is the main thing for us, as well as improve the experience of visitors” according to the Hellenic newspaper Ekathinerini.
Visits will be reduced by 3,000 fewer people
Some 23,000 people a day have gathered at the monument complex, mostly large groups visiting the area before noon. Faced with this situation, the concern of the Hellenic Government is that the monument is not damaged by excessive tourism.
The new entry limits will be implemented on a trial basis from September 4 and will officially enter into force permanently from April 1, 2024. Thus, the measure does not establish a maximum duration limit on visits that which, according to the minister, is usually around 45 minutes. In most cases they are people who come to the Acropolis as part of an organized tour or excursions from cruise ships. These visitors are 50% of daily arrivals.
Different numbers of visitors will be allowed to enter every hour during the site’s opening hours from 8 AM to 8 PM. Under the new system, 3,000 people will have access from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., 2,000 over the next hour, and the numbers will vary for the rest of the day.
“Protect the monument and improve the experience of tourists”
“The measure will address the need to protect the monument, which is the main thing for us, as well as improve the experience of visitors to the site,” the minister explained. In addition, limits will also be imposed for other similar popular archeological sites. The decision on the Acropolis came after consultations with cruise and tour operators, and was delayed due to Greece’s June 25 general election.
More than 3 million people visited this place and its marbles last year, according to the statistical authority of Greece. Although the pandemic brought a breather for the Acropolis and the Parthenon due to the tourist break, the return to normality has once again made this historic place popular.
According to the Greek Minister of Culture and Sport herself, Lina Mendoni, “only in June and early July, the number of visitors increased by 80% compared to 2019.”
The Acropolis closes its doors in the heat wave
Greek authorities already closed off access to the Acropolis and other historic sites during midday last month at the height of a heat wave that also saw massive wildfires across the country.
They also put up awnings as sun protection for people lining up to see the 5th century BC temples. C of the Acropolis. Mendoni assured that these measures will be repeated if necessary. Greece achieved a record tourist arrival in 2018 with 33 million people and expects to reach a similar number this year.
