As an extremely popular archaeological hotspot the Acropolis saw a monumental surge in tourism over the summer months, in an upward turn for the travel sector post-Covid as reported by CNN.
After years of pandemic-induced falls in tourist numbers across the globe, the travel sector is back to its pre-Covid height. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the industry is predicted to have brought in nearly 10 trillion dollars this year.
The rising number of eager travellers is especially noticeable at popular tourist hot spots around the world, including the former temple on the Athenian Acropolis. The almost-unbearable heatwave in Europe this year didn’t deter scores of tourists from filing into the Greek capital.
The country’s most popular archaeological spot became so busy that in September, Greece put a limit on the number of visitors allowed to the site to prevent overcrowding. A new booking website now keeps track of tourists at the Acropolis while enforcing hourly time slots to tackle overcrowding and protect the ancient temple.
Speaking to Greek radio in September, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said: “Obviously tourism is desirable for the county, for all of us. But we have to find a way of preventing overtourism from harming the monument.”
The new booking system, which rolled out on Monday, September 4, caps Acropolis visits to twenty thousand tourists a day, and will be used at more than 25 other Greek sites from April next year. Access is granted to three thousand visitors between 8am and 9am, followed by two thousand each subsequent hour.
Tips for Avoiding the Height of Acropolis Tourism
To sidestep the worst of the crowding in Athens, it is advisable to visit outside the peak months of July and August. April and May are known to be less congested ahead of the more full-on summer months. And September and October are agreeable months with cooler temperatures and more space to enjoy the city’s culture.
If the Acropolis is on your bucket list, it’s best to book a time slot in the afternoon or early evening, as the bulk of tourists, including cruise ship passengers, visit in the morning.
Starting next year visitors will also have the opportunity to have a private, two-hour guided tour of the Acropolis, for 5,000 euros. The decision was made by the country’s top advisory body on the protection of antiquities, the Central Archaeological Council (KAS).
The exclusive tours initiative aims to attract premium tourism and generate additional revenue. Offered in the summer months, the new service will be available on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, for up to five groups with a maximum of four people.
KAS has also introduced a new ticket policy for many sites across the country.
CNN also listed Amsterdam, Bali, Barcelona, Miami, Paris, Phuket and Venice as seeing a steep rise in tourist numbers since the end of the pandemic.