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Greece Takes Bold Steps To Combat Over-Tourism: A Look At Europe’s Efforts

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 28, 2025

As Europe continues to be a top destination for global travelers, Greece is among the countries grappling with the challenges of over-tourism. With a surge in visitors to its islands and cultural landmarks, the country is introducing a variety of strategies to protect its rich heritage and ensure sustainable growth in the tourism sector.

In 2025, Greece will continue to push forward with measures aimed at managing the overwhelming number of tourists, including taxes, visitor caps, and stricter regulations on short-term rentals. These efforts are part of a broader European trend as countries across the continent seek ways to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the preservation of their cultural and environmental assets.

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Greece’s Tourism Strategies: Taxes, Fees, And Visitor Limits

Greece is taking a multi-faceted approach to address the challenges of over-tourism, with both increased fees and stricter regulations. Starting in 2025, tourist taxes for hotel stays will range from €1.50 per night for budget accommodations to €15 per night for luxury hotels during peak periods. These rates are designed to balance tourist influx with the need to support the local economy throughout the year.

In addition to the accommodation tax, Greece will impose a €20 landing fee on cruise passengers visiting popular islands such as Mykonos and Santorini. Mykonos, which saw over 1.2 million cruise passengers in 2024, has a permanent population of just 10,000. The fee is aimed at easing the pressure on local infrastructure while ensuring the sustainability of these destinations.

Furthermore, Athens is taking steps to manage short-term rentals in the city center. Starting January 1, 2025, new licenses for short-term accommodations in three central districts will be banned, a measure designed to alleviate housing shortages and reduce pressure on local services. This policy is likely to extend beyond its one-year trial period.

Amsterdam Leads With Green Tourism Policies

While Greece is taking steps to address over-tourism, cities like Amsterdam are leading the way with innovative green tourism policies. In celebration of its 750th anniversary in 2025, the Dutch capital has already implemented one of Europe’s highest tourist taxes—12.5% on accommodation costs. Additionally, Amsterdam has banned buses over 7.5 tons from the city center, and is working towards introducing “non-emission” zones, where scooters and mopeds will be banned.

These measures are part of a long-term strategy to create a more sustainable tourism model, despite the potential short-term rise in costs for tourists. Amsterdam’s focus on green initiatives aims to reduce the environmental impact of tourism, and by 2025, passenger vessels and yachts will be subject to stricter regulations.

Venice’s Tourist Tax And Regulations For Sustainable Growth

Venice, another popular European destination, has also implemented measures to curb over-tourism. In 2024, the city introduced a €5 per-day tourist tax, which will expand to 54 days in 2025, with increased rates for visitors who do not pay in advance. This initiative has raised €2.2 million and reflects Venice’s ongoing effort to balance tourist flows with the needs of its residents.

The city has also tightened regulations for short-term rentals, limiting property owners to renting their homes for only 120 days per year unless they meet specific environmental criteria. These actions are designed to mitigate the pressure of mass tourism while creating a more sustainable environment for both locals and visitors.

Pompeii Takes Action To Preserve Its Legacy

In Italy, Pompeii is stepping up its efforts to manage over-tourism with a daily cap of 20,000 visitors, set to begin in November 2024. During peak seasons, this cap will be further reduced, and visitors will be required to purchase tickets online, ensuring a more controlled and timed entry. These measures follow similar strategies used by cultural institutions like the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the Louvre in Paris, where visitor caps have been successfully implemented to protect cultural heritage.

The UK’s Response To Over-Tourism: New “Tourist Tax” Policies

In the UK, the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system will require non-European travelers to apply for entry permission starting January 2025. This £10 fee, which is linked to passports, allows multiple entries over two years and helps manage the flow of international visitors while enhancing security.

Meanwhile, Scotland is exploring the implementation of a 5% tourist tax, which is still under discussion. Cities like Edinburgh and councils in the Highlands have proposed such a tax to curb over-tourism, though its implementation is uncertain for 2025.

Portugal’s Growing Tourist Fees

Portugal is also joining the ranks of countries addressing over-tourism. As of 2025, Lisbon will increase its tourist fee to €4 per night for hotel guests, while Porto’s fee will rise to €3. Several municipalities across the Azores and Madeira have also started imposing tourist taxes, further expanding the trend.

Facing The Big Questions Of Over-Tourism

As European destinations continue to implement measures to manage over-tourism, several important questions arise: Can tourism grow without damaging the cultural and social fabric of popular destinations? Will taxes, visitor caps, and short-term bans help mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism? And, crucially, how can countries find a balance between economic development and the preservation of cultural heritage?

These challenges will shape the future of tourism in Greece and across Europe, with each country looking for ways to strike that delicate balance. For Greece, these ongoing changes signify a commitment to ensuring that its world-renowned sites and vibrant communities remain sustainable and protected for future generations.

The Decline Of Smartwatches: A Turning Point In The Wearable Tech Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2025

For the first time in history, the smartwatch market is facing a significant downturn. Shipments are expected to drop by 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in a segment that has been growing steadily for over a decade. A report by Counterpoint reveals that while Apple still holds the top spot, its dominance is being challenged by a surge from Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BBK. Even as the overall market struggles, some companies are thriving.

The Big Picture: Why Smartwatches Are Slowing Down

Apple’s flagship products have long been the driving force in the smartwatch market, but even the tech giant is feeling the pressure. The company’s shipments are projected to fall by 19% this year, though it will remain the market leader. Meanwhile, brands from China are capitalizing on the shift, with Huawei showing an impressive 35% growth in sales, driven by the booming domestic market and a broad range of offerings, including smartwatches for kids.

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Xiaomi, too, is experiencing remarkable success, with a staggering 135% increase in sales. In contrast, Samsung is seeing more modest growth, up 3%, thanks to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra series.

While some companies are succeeding, the broader market is facing headwinds. The biggest factor behind the overall decline is the slowdown in India, where consumer demand for smartwatches has stagnated. The segment is suffering from a lack of innovation and fresh updates, leaving many consumers with little incentive to upgrade their devices. Add to that market saturation, and it’s clear why many users are content with their current models. The Chinese market, however, is bucking the trend, showing 6% growth in 2024.

A Glimpse Into The Future

Looking ahead, the smartwatch market may begin to recover in 2025, driven by the increasing integration of AI and advanced health monitoring tools. As these technologies evolve, the industry could see a resurgence in demand.

Huawei’s Remarkable Comeback

Huawei’s impressive performance in the smartwatch space signals a broader recovery for the company, which has been hit hard by US sanctions. Once the world’s largest smartphone maker, Huawei’s business was decimated when it lost access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system in 2019. But in China, Huawei has maintained its dominance, with its market share growing to 17% in 2024.

This resurgence was partly driven by the launch of the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone featuring a 7-nanometer chip developed in China. Despite US sanctions, the device surprised many with its capabilities, a testament to China’s rising investment in domestic semiconductor production.

In February, Huawei also unveiled its Mate XT foldable smartphone, the world’s first device to fold in three directions. Running on HarmonyOS 4.2, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the phone further demonstrates the company’s resilience and ability to innovate despite international challenges.

Huawei’s smartwatch offerings are also catching attention, particularly the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, which launched in September of last year. With a premium titanium alloy design, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and impressive health tracking features, the GT 5 Pro has become a standout in the market, available to both Android and iOS users.

A Brief History Of The Smartwatch Revolution

The smartwatch market has had its fair share of milestones, but the real breakthrough came in 2012 with the Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded project that raised over $10 million. Pebble introduced the world to smartphone integration, app downloads, and long battery life, becoming the first truly mass-market smartwatch.

In 2013, Samsung entered the game with the Galaxy Gear, marking its first attempt at wearable tech. But it was Apple’s entry in 2014 that truly set the industry on fire. The Apple Watch’s sleek design, integration with iOS, and emphasis on health and fitness catapulted it to the top of the market, establishing a standard that many other brands would try to follow.

By 2021, the smartwatch industry had grown to over $30 billion in revenue, with annual growth reaching 20%. Yet now, it finds itself at a crossroads, with innovation stagnating and market saturation taking a toll.