Visits to the Acropolis of Athens, Greece's most popular archaeological site, will be capped starting next month at a maximum of 20,000 people daily and subject to varying hourly entry limits.
Greece's Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the controls are needed to prevent bottlenecks and overcrowding at the Unesco World Heritage site. As many as 23,000 people a day have been squeezing into the monument complex, mostly large groups visiting before noon.
“That's a huge number,” said Mendoni. “Obviously tourism is desirable for the country, for all of us. But we must work out how excessive tourism won't harm the monument.”
The new entry limits will be implemented on a trial basis from September 4, and will come permanently into effect from April 1, 2024, the minister said. There will be no limit on how long visits may last, although Mendoni said people who come with organised tours or from cruise ships, who account for about 50 per cent of the daily visitor count, spend an average of 45 minutes at the site.
Half of the Acropolis' foot traffic currently arrives between 8am and noon, said Mendoni. Under the new system, 3,000 people will be granted access from 8am-9am, 2,000 during the next hour and the numbers will vary throughout the day until closing time at 8pm.
“The measure will address the need to protect the monument, which is the main thing for us, as well as [improving] visitors' experience of the site,” she said.
Similar caps will be imposed for other popular archaeological sites, Mendoni said. The decision followed consultations with tour and cruise operators and was delayed due to Greece's June 25 general election, she said.
More than 3 million people visited the site last year, according to Greece's statistics authority.
Greek authorities closed access to the Acropolis and other ancient sites during midday hours last month at the height of a heatwave that also caused huge wildfires across the country. They also installed awnings as sun protection for people lining up to see the Acropolis’ fifth-century BC temples. Mendoni said those steps would be repeated, if necessary.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
