The Oracle was right: Athens Mayor and Greek Tourism Minister Go to War
At issue, overtourism — but only Airbnb and Booking.com are to blame
Years ago we made a pilgrimage, like every good pagan does, to the Oracle of Delphi. This was before pointless international gabfests like the “Delphi Economic Forum” (where right-wing slop makers Breitbart were invitees this year, Zeus help us all) stole some thunder from this hallowed spot.
Which by the way is not the only oracle in Greece.
Anyway, the oracle foretold, if not of conflict than definitely of a certain tension between the Mayor of Athens, who is no Pericles, and the Greek Minister of Tourism.
Now that tension has been unleashed.
What precipitated it was a sort of anti-Athenian hit piece in the lefty Guardian newspaper — for which “climate change” is a bigger threat to global security than nuclear proliferation — in which the dependably snippy mayor said “Athens cannot operate as if it were a giant hotel” and that “Restrictions and rules are needed.
Has Haris Doukas ever been to Paris or New York? One could wonder.
The Tourism Minister, Olga Kefalogianni, isn’t having it.
In a statement, she said that “The Mayor of Athens must, first of all, take care of the daily lives of the city’s residents, their cleanliness, functionality and quality of life.”
Judging by the state of Athens’ uneven and broken sidewalks and graffiti problem, Doukas has fallen short on that remit. He seems too focused on a greater role for himself on the national political stage.
Kefalogianni added that “Interviews in foreign media with misleading messages about Athens do not protect the city. On the contrary, they undermine its image and harm the capital’s tourism.” She hammered:
“Athens does not need fabricated images of crisis. It needs serious work, a responsible attitude, and policies that truly address the pressures created by increased tourist demand.
The government has already taken a series of strict measures to protect the city and manage the impacts of tourism. That is why any comparison of Athens with other international destinations, such as Barcelona, is simplistic and incorrect.”
There you have it.
We suggest The Guardian present some less lefty-biased reporters into the mix. Oh wait, then it might actually be closer to something once known as objective journalism.
Both Mr. Doukas and the Guardian’s self-styled expert on Athenian urban theory, Helena Smith, fail to name the real villain when it comes to “over-saturation” — it’s not hotels or daytrippers.
It’s Airbnb.
Doukas, it the Guardian article, ridiculously states that “We’ll be stopping all tourist investment in Plaka, which I am on a mission to save. There’s no more room. Not for short-term rental, not for serviced apartments, not for hotels, or any other tourism use. The area is over-saturated.”
Sorry Mr. Mayor, but that is just not accurate. I’d be willing to bet a few glasses of ouzo that the Koukaki neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis Museum is more “over-saturated” in some respects than the iconic Plaka.
Says one of our Greek local sources, Thanassis, “Koukaki is just a disaster, all Airbnb, but walk around Plaka at night and it’s mostly empty.” He adds, “Why, then, is the mayor going after Plaka?
We don’t know.
Conflicts between city and national governments are nothing new, by the way— just look at Washington, D.C.
As for Doukas’ contention that under his leadership the city is “demolishing buildings to create public space for parks,” we say, really?
That was certainly something that his predecessor, Kostas Bakoyannis, started to do.
But now? Ask any Athenian what new public space for a park they’ve seen recently and you’re bound to get a good laugh.
No ouzo required.
