Visitors staying in the popular Zagori region of Epirus, northern Greece, will soon be charged a special culture fee of 0.75 euros under a new joint ministerial decision.

The decision, signed this week by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, applies to all types of tourist accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses, short-term Airbnb-style rentals, and private villas.

The fee will be added to the final accommodation bill and collected at checkout, with revenue directed to the Municipality of Zagori for the protection and promotion of its cultural and natural heritage. Zagori was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 for its “outstanding ecumenical value” and the “authenticity and integrity” of the cultural and natural landscape.

Accommodation services providers will be required to file a “Declaration of Payment of the Special Cultural Fee” with the Zagori Municipal treasury by the last working day of the month following each quarter. Late or non-payment will incur a 2% monthly surcharge, capped at 100% of the outstanding amount.

To ensure compliance, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) will provide digital services for identification and monitoring of registered accommodation providers.

The fee comes on top of a climate resilience tax and non-resident levy.

Earlier this summer, authorities on the Greek islands of Symi, Ithaki, and Paxi said they were considering a fee for day visitors in a bid to tackle the growing strain of overtourism.

Symi’s Mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas proposed a 3-euro fee for visitors who do not stay overnight.