Athens'mayor's interview on Guardian draws minister's ire

“Athens cannot operate as if it were a giant hotel,” he said in an interview. “Restrictions and rules are needed. Cities must also have a say in the way they develop,” he said.

This drew the ire of Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni responds that “interviews in foreign media with misleading messages about Athens do not protect the city. On the contrary, they undermine its image and harm the capital's tourism. Athens does not need fabricated images of crisis. It needs serious work, a responsible attitude and policies that truly address the pressures created by increased tourist demand".

“The Mayor of Athens must first of all take care of the daily life of the city’s residents, their cleanliness, functionality and quality of life.” According to her, the government has already taken a series of strict measures to protect the city and manage the impacts of tourism. That is why any comparison of Athens with other international destinations, such as Barcelona, is simplistic and incorrect."Athens is today a leading international destination. It has developed not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. We must all protect it with seriousness, responsibility and respect for the city's residents, employees and businesses"

Doukas: Athens does not need beautifications from come-lately defenders.

Haris Doukas responded sharply to the Minister of Tourism, saying that Athens “Athens does not need beautifications from come-lately defenders”. He insists that uncontrolled development threatens its emblematic neighborhoods and calls it ostrich-like.Doukas’ response to Olga Kefalogianni:Uncontrolled tourist development threatens Athen's emblematic neighborhoods.
Whoever does not see this is simply ostrich-like. 

I call on the Minister to study our documented proposals and to support our request for the Municipality to be given the resilience fee, so that the appropriate infrastructure can be built.
Tourists cannot pay fees to hotels and the Government withholds them and does not return a single euro to the Municipality.I also call on the Minister, instead of inventing non-existent enemies, to discuss with the Municipal Authority of Athens a comprehensive plan for sustainable tourism development of the city.