“VIPs who will be able to enjoy the sunset at the top of the Acropolis, while the precarious will watch them from below, deprived of this privilege.” Kostas Paschalidis, the president of the Greek archaeologists’ union, bitterly summarizes the new “experiment” proposed by the Greek government from April. For 5,000 euros, groups of up to five people can enjoy a private tour of the Parthenon, at the top of the Acropolis which dominates Athens, almost alone.
A simple “improved service” according to the authorities
These closed-door excursions will take place in the morning from 7 to 9 a.m., and in the evening from 8 to 10 p.m., from April to October, “i.e. just before and after the site opens to tourists”, insists Nicoletta Divari-Valakou , head of the Hellenic Organization for the Development of Cultural Resources. “We are creating an improved service that will target a specific clientele,” she explains. “A private guide and special gifts will be included in this offer. This is an experience that will only bring in additional revenue , without depriving other visitors, who pay a regular rate, of visiting rights.”
For the general public, however, the price of entry to the Acropolis, like those of many other ancient sites in the country, will increase to 30 euros in high season in 2025, compared to 20 currently.
According to Kostas Paschalidis, from the archaeologists’ union, the Greek authorities are minimizing the social impact of this decision. “It is the most visited monument in Greece, a heritage which must remain accessible to all. Many citizens have low incomes [NDLR : le salaire minimum en Grèce est de 910 euros brut], and yet they deserve to have access to culture, denounces the archaeologist. The paradox is that the Acropolis plateau represents democracy, but there is nothing democratic about this measure! There are too many visitors, but the only regulatory lever found by the government is money. However, this site is not a commercial asset.”
80% more visits since 2019
In this balmy month of March, queues of tourists are already forming around the Parthenon. Attendance at the Acropolis has soared in recent years, reaching 23,000 daily visits in the summer season, an 80% increase compared to 2019. In reality, the growth in tourism affects the entire country. of 10 million inhabitants and its hundreds of islands. In 2023, Greece recorded a record attendance of 32.7 million foreign visitors. Satisfaction for the right-wing government, in power since 2019, which regularly reminds that this area represents 25% of the country’s GDP. “Tourism is presented as the country’s locomotive, but its revenues are mainly captured by foreign investors,” explains economist Nicholas Theocharakis. And more and more voices of Greek citizens are being raised to warn against the harmful effects of overtourism on their own daily lives: inflation, illegal construction on protected sites or overconsumption of water and electricity in summer.