Dukas “Euronews” emphasizes that it is like Barcelona in terms of tourism

propaganda

This year is expected to do so Athens receives about 10 million visitorsBecause it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Since the beginning of the year New rental homes have been banned In the short term in the city center, the municipal authorities remain vigilant so that the increase in the tourist flow does not involve a burden on the population.

“The decisive thing is that Tourism is sustainable““Euronews”, the mayor of Athens, Harris Ducas. “We studied pregnancy capacity This says that we should not be satisfied. We are not yet in Barcelona, ​​but, according to the study, We have to act like Barcelona. “

What does the study reveal? There are 27 unsaturated areas where there can be no other tourist. We also create a sustainable tourist observatory, where we check the data every day, every month. We cooperate very well with hotels, but also with some platforms like Airbnb, To be able Control and directing the flows. It is very important for us to be a sustainable destination for people to breathe calm. “

“Euronews”: Is there a possibility that Freezing new permissions Short rents extend to more neighborhoods?

“naturally, This is what the observatory is doing. We study data, and when necessary, we intervene and create new restrictions. I also say something so that there is no misunderstanding. The tourist product should be quality. Also, it is not good for the tourism product to have incredibly, organized, and unilateral culture. “

As the mayor of Athens explained, the observatory collects data on Family number for each resident,The number of short -term rents for each neighborhood And another series of indicators. Depending on these indicators, the neighborhoods are “red or green”.

“There are some currently saturated neighborhoods, but I can give them data in September. Now a very critical moment. At the end of September, we can announce whether it is a necessary new ban and where. “

High saturation and high rents

In the Psirri and Kumoundouou neighborhood, two from 27 saturated neighborhoods in the center, more than 90 % of the properties operate as hotels and Short -term rented apartmentsThe average rent exceeds 1,200 euros per month, which is the same medium salary. Many other neighborhoods in Athens are classified as “moderate saturated”. There, officials will monitor whether there are enough real estate and infrastructure to integrate to welcome more tourists.

The Observatory is a modern institution, explains “Euronws” ioannis Georgios, the administrative director of the Development Company of Athens. “The first job she did was Study pregnancy capacity. It was a real study it delivered Micro -numbers, such as rental level And the rate of occupation and saturation.

This study will be updated periodically every year. At the end of 2025, after a year of presenting the first study, we will provide updated data and we can link it Artificial intelligence tools And other space indicators to be more effective.

What can we discover? We can realize that a moderate saturation point started to go to saturation. This is where the country should do something. We will explain that. We will tell the city council that this is the place where we must create a division with restrictions on the use of lands so that we can catch up with the problem.

A study of pregnancy has an international attraction. Because although Athens does not have mobilization as a whole It is the first city to do this study and try to take measures before reaching the problem. This is why there is a talk about studying in the actions before the conference, where 11 mayors met from all over Europe. “

Athens is part of the mayors for housingAlong with 15 European cities, which requires the European Union to give priority to Control of the housing crisis. “The short -term rent is practicing a lot of pressure on the housing. There will be 10 million tourists in Athens this year. Athens is the No. 1 destination throughout the countryNo. 9 across Europe and the number 10 in the world.

They are “crazy” characters that show exactly that tourist flows are increasing dramatically. The main thing is to make tourism sustainable. We conducted a study of pregnancy capacity that we should not fall asleep in the cave. We are not yet in BarcelonaHowever, according to the study, “we have to work as if we were Barcelona.” What does the study indicate?

There are 27 unsaturated areas where there can be no other tourist. What did we do? We deliver data to the government, and In three societies, rents were banned A short period since this year. For the Plaka area, we create a working team that will be achieved if there are violations. We have already controlled legitimacy in about 40 surfaces, and we also control service apartments, because hotels are banned; But of course, if you have the entire Airbnb building, it is like a hotel and this should not happen.

propaganda

We have also created a sustainable tourist observatoryWhere we check the data every day, every month. We cooperate well with hotels as well as with Some platforms like AirbnbTo be able to control and redirect flow. It is very important for us to be a destination, but to be a sustainable fate for people to breathe.

I will end the issue of housing. We have a big problem. We calculated that we need about 1,000 apartments for social housing. What we are doing now is subsidies: We support about 100 floors for reconstruction and rent support at 250 floors. They are very low numbers. We also find a municipal building that tries to rebuild with a little money to offer 7 floors, but we need 1000.

And since we are not the only capital that wants to enhance the housing offer, along with other large capitals such as Rome, Barcelona, ​​Paris, Lisbon, we have the main initiative for housing, in which we ask 80,000 million recovery and flexibility that has not been appointed to save the city residents and we have residents in the Michiga centers. It is very important because social housing is right. “

propaganda

“Euronews”: Is there any possibility The measure that freezes new licenses To expand long rental -extend to more areas?

“Of course, this is what the observatory does. We are examining the data And when necessary, We interfere We create new restrictions. I also say something so that there is no misunderstanding.

The tourism product is of high quality. It is not a good idea for the tourism product to have incredibly organized complete neighborhoods about tourism and this is a unilateral culture. “Do not go to certain areas because there is nothing authentic, nothing real. There is no residents, just tourists,” says the same platforms in the comments of the visitor.

On the other hand, and the residents of Athens must live in the center, they must live in the center, young families must live in the center. This day cannot happen because the rents are extreme. Even in poor neighborhoods, it can cost a few square meters up to 1500 euros for rent. For this reason we need to display. We cannot leave the market laws, because the prices will shoot then and the Athenians will not be able to pay them. “

propaganda

‘Euronews’: I said it is possible Free new contracts in other regions. What will it depend and when the recommendation is made?

Our Development Company Observatory, responsible for tourism, constantly collects the data related to it Family number for each resident, he The number of short -term rents for each neighborhood And another series of indicators. These indicators are used, with scientific evidence, to “put red or green” on the neighborhoods.

So, as a “red color” neighborhood, we immediately call platforms. I must say that the platforms are aware Some of them, such as Airbnb, continue to give us data and tell us that it is available to redirect our flows. There are some neighborhoods that now have a lot of tools, but I can provide you with data in September. Now it is a very critical moment. At the end of September We can announce whether there is a new and necessary ban“.

“Euronews”: I have said that we have to act “as if we were Barcelona.” What does this mean?

propaganda

“In Spain they are making extremist movements. They take homes on short -term platforms. People live in Zulos and make manifestations. in Other cities, such as VeniceThey provide extremist measures, such as giving money to approach the center of Venice. I do not agree with all of that.

They do this because these cities have not taken action soon. We are not yet in Barcelona or VeniceBut we have to prepare now so that we do not become Barcelona and that people do not protest because they have no place to stay. “