A new timed entry system to the Acropolis site came into effect on Monday, with Culture Minister Lina Mendoni telling Alpha TV that the system would protect the monument and make it easier for visitors to enjoy the ‘experience. the daily visitor limit cannot exceed 20,000, ANA reports.
In an interview, Mendoni said the limit of 20,000 visitors per day at the Acropolis was based on a report from the Cultural Resources Management and Development Organization, which suggested the limit to avoid traffic jams and protect the site ancient and emblematic. The minister said the report took into account the time spent by visitors at the site and aimed to ensure a steady flow of visitors and avoid congestion at the entrance, particularly during the morning hours when traffic towards the Parthenon is the highest.
“The goal is to avoid the traffic jams that existed until yesterday, since 50% of visitors want to go up to the Acropolis between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.,” explained the Minister of Culture. The new online system keeps track of visitor numbers, providing a threshold once an area has already filled its allotted number of visitors. “The current opening hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., have been divided into 12 visiting areas,” Mendoni said, referring to the extended schedule in summer.
“Each zone has a specific number of visitors allowed. For example, the 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. zone allows 3,000 people; it will not allow 3,000 + 1. This means that visitors have a greater opportunity to tour and to properly enjoy this major monument,” she added.
The new system will ensure a constant flow and avoid traffic jams both at the site and at the entrance, where bottlenecks often occur.
Mendoni said that from July to early September, the Cultural Resources Organization and archeology officials from the Athens Ephorate met with tourism officials and guides to inform them and give them time to understand. adapt to the new procedure.
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Photo source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Bryan Ledgard
