Greece plans for time cap on visitors to Acropolis monument

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Greece’s iconic Acropolis, a renowned archaeological gem, is set to introduce visitor caps in an effort to manage overcrowding and ensure the preservation of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Starting next month, the Acropolis will limit daily visits to a maximum of 20,000 visitors, with varying hourly entry allowances, according to the country’s Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni.

The decision to implement these controls comes in response to the surging number of tourists that the monument complex has been accommodating, with as many as 23,000 people per day, particularly during the morning hours. Mendoni expressed the need to strike a balance between promoting tourism and safeguarding the integrity of the site, noting that excessive tourism could potentially harm the monument’s preservation.

Commencing as a trial from September 4, the new entry limits will be permanently in place from April 1, 2024. While there won’t be restrictions on the duration of visits, organized tours and cruise ship visitors, constituting around half of the daily visitor count, tend to spend an average of 45 minutes at the site.

Under the revised system, visitor numbers will be staggered throughout the Acropolis’ daily opening hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To alleviate the peak morning congestion, the new approach will allow 3,000 visitors between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., followed by 2,000 in the subsequent hour, with varying allowances for the rest of the day.

Lina Mendoni emphasized that the primary motivation behind these measures is to protect the monument while enhancing the visitor experience. Similar visitor caps will be instituted at other prominent archaeological sites in Greece. This decision follows consultations with tour operators and cruise companies and was slightly delayed due to the country’s general election in June.

Reflecting its enduring appeal, the Acropolis welcomed over 3 million visitors last year, underscoring the imperative to strike a delicate equilibrium between tourism and the conservation of this priceless historical treasure.

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