'No more tourism!' Greece fury as pretty city overrun with British tourists
Furious protests have broken out in the Greek capital of Athens amid growing outrage over overtourism in the city.

Residents in Athens are taking to the streets as an influx of tourism engulfs the Greek capital and pushes many locals out.

The backlash against tourists has included graffiti disparaging foreigners, protests to "mourn the death" of neighbourhoods, and even vandalism and arson.
At one rally last week, protesters chanted: "They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives".

Around 6.4 million tourists visit Athens every year, the majority travelling to see the Acropolis and other ancient wonders.

Greece relies heavily on tourism to prop up its economy, accounting for almost one-fifth of the nation's GDP in 2022. However, the reliance has sparked a major housing crisis in the capital city.

More than 40 percent of disposable income in Greece is spent on housing – more than in any other European country. Meanwhile, seven in ten Greeks under the age of 34 still live with their parents.

Many Greeks are forced to move out of the city as real estate companies turn their homes into co-working spaces and Airbnbs for tourists and digital nomads.

Short-term holiday rentals have surged by 500 percent in less than a decade.

Inflation climbed to 3.2% in March

The national inflation rate in Greece amounted to 3.2% in March climbing from 2.9% in February, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) reported on Wednesday.

As shown by the ELSTAT data, inflation in the food category stood at 5.3%, with olive oil prices being 67.2% higher compared to March last year, fruit being 12.7% more expensive and the mineral water/soft drinks/fruit juices category showing a 11.4% price climb.

Online fraud takes on ominous proportions

Online fraud is becoming a veritable scourge with more than 3,000 cases recorded in 2023 alone, according to cybercrime authorities.

More specifically, 3,656 cases and 273 attempts were recorded, with only 627 solved so far, while the victims of fraud amounted to 3,733.

These scams include attempts to capture personal passwords through misleading messages, including the old trick of sending prospective victims emails or text messages about supposedly “forgotten” parcels at the post office. In recent days, misleading calls to mobile phones have also been recorded with greater frequency, with the most widespread method involving a recorded message in English purporting to inform citizens of “interception of their identity details.”