On Ano Koufonisi, the smallest inhabited island in the Cyclades, 22 new hotels have been licensed or are moving toward licensing in the past two years, with five existing units set to expand, intensifying development pressure on the 5.7-square-kilometer island.

Currently, 13 hotels operate on the island. The planned additions – 18 new builds and four conversions of existing properties – along with five upgrades, will add 19,636 square meters of construction. Projects include three five-star hotels, seven four-star units and others of lower categories. Eight developments exceed 1,000 sq.m., with the largest, a 1,635-sq.m. five-star hotel at Ammouda.

A dispute over the leasing of beaches at Pori and Italida – ultimately canceled by the Finance Ministry – brought to the forefront the island’s haphazard development.

Since 2018, 90 building permits totaling about 23,500 sq.m. have been issued.