By Antonis Petropoulos on Saturday, 27 June 2026
Category: Members' Blogs

Overtourism + Elitism = More Overtourism

​When it comes to Overtourism, the neoliberal win-win recipe seems to be "focus on the rich few". This also seems to be the case with the Acropolis, where exclusive private tours are once more offered at dawn or at dusk, before the unlucky hordes, and will cost the rich and famous a trifling 5,000 Euros per group of 5 (max) compared to the ordinary 30 Euros, timed entry, tickets. This exclusive practice may actually increase visitation by highlighting / advertising how much some are willing to pay, generating aspirational demand. Extensive, free, media coverage of "€5,000 VIP access to the Acropolis" clearly has nothing to do with low‑impact, low-key management. Even from a strictly numerical perspective, the fake solution of offering these tours to just a handful few people, has an infinitesimal effect on replacing revenue. But what could be worse, is the irony of Elitism in this global symbol of Democracy.

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