The Greek government is planning to reduce overcrowding, traffic jams and water shortages by expanding sustainable tourism policy in popular locations and curbing mass tourism in an approach praised as historic.
Santorini and Mykonos are seen as overcrowded in high season. For years, residents have pointed to traffic jams, water shortages, rising rents and overloaded infrastructure.
As visitor numbers soar, Athens plans to reduce the impact on the environment, beaches and infrastructure, says Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.
That means fewer large hotels are to be built, and new structures being further back from beaches.
Regions are to be subdivided according to the impact of tourism, with popular holiday islands like Rhodes, Kos, Santorini and Mykonos subject to stricter conditions for construction.
New hotels in heavily impacted island regions will be allowed to have at most 100 beds.
Construction regulations will be made stricter, with new hotels outside official construction regions allowed only on large properties. Depending on the region, these will have to be at least eight to 16 hectares in area.
The aim is to prevent more buildings being erected in a disorderly way across the landscape.
The coasts are to be protected better, with no building allowed within 25 metres of the sea. Exceptions will be allowed for access and escape routes.
The move came after the central bank reported nearly 38 million visitors last year - almost a record.
Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou says the programme is a "historic reform."
The relevant ministerial decree is due to go into force at the end of June.
