The conference “Tourism and Sustainability,” which took place at the packed amphitheater of the Acropolis Museum on Tuesday, February 27th, was a resounding success. Organized by the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Culture (ELLET) under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the event saw the presence of the Minister of Tourism, the Mayor of Athens, and the Secretary-General of Tourism Policy and Development, along with distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad, representatives of institutional bodies, and civil society.
ELLET President Stathis Potamitis welcomed the speakers and participants, framing the discussion by stating, “We seek to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of Overtourism and to examine tested or proposed solutions, enriching the national dialogue on the subject by giving particular importance to the carrying capacity of tourist areas and the views and experiences of local communities.”
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni noted in her opening speech, “The Ministry of Tourism is shaping a tourism product that will develop with measures and balance, ensuring that economic development provides opportunities for all, protects the natural environment and cultural capital, and highlights new destinations. It is necessary to move beyond the outdated model that prioritizes quantity over quality and focus on long-term development and resilience of destinations, establishing rules for environmental protection.”
In his greeting, Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas emphasized, “Tourist development is happening at rates many times faster than the creation of the necessary regulatory framework and the development of necessary infrastructure and the implementation of all that needs to be done to ensure the optimal use of environmental resources, to secure the economic activity of businesses with stable employment for all workers, and for visitors to feel satisfaction.” He mentioned that the Municipality of Athens is conducting a study through ELLET on tourist capacity, which is expected to provide valuable insights into tourist flow and short-term rental accommodations. He requested, “The Ministry to empower us to have the ability to regulate with the platforms, so that based on scientific data, we can redistribute flows in neighborhoods in a better way.”
The conference addressed three dense sections:
The approach of the carrying capacity of a place as a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable tourism development.
Experiences from tourism development in Greece and Europe: Lisbon, Krakow, Venice, Corfu, Santorini.
Proposals for managing tourism development in Greece.
It is clear that the Greek tourism sector has been gathering the key parameters of growth (in arrivals, receipts, and tourist beds) for at least the past decade. The question that arises concerns the long-term view of this growth, as well as the sustainable approach as a “one-way street.”
The carrying capacity emerges as a necessary condition for investment, often subsidized by the State under the provisions of existing development laws. It is absolutely necessary to study the parameters of the carrying capacity of existing settlements for the integration of new residential investments within their current limits, as well as to conduct a specific study to determine if there are “still margins for the expansion of existing settlements.”
A common assumption in most statements is the problems caused by large tourist investments, which are usually promoted as “strategic investments,” creating hotel units with large-scale residential sections (real estate), without any information to the local government and with very limited benefit to the local community.
The contributions of the Mayors of Santorini, Corfu, and Lisbon, who analyzed the pressures of popular destinations from tourist intensity, were exceptionally significant. The impacts of the concentration of many short-term rental accommodations in the centers of historic cities and settlements were highlighted: traffic congestion, alteration of neighborhoods, housing shortages for permanent residents, and changes in their way of life.
The problems created by the arrival of large cruise ships with numerous passengers were discussed, which a) require the expansion of port and road infrastructure, b) cause traffic congestion, c) create atmospheric pollution and increase waste, leaving very little economic benefit to local businesses.
Finally – and in the shadow of the impending bill for unauthorized construction – the issue of construction without planning and without study of the carrying capacity of the place could not be omitted, causing the enlargement of old paths to be considered roads, destruction of natural resources, and energy burden on the place with the compulsory expansion of infrastructure.
The main conclusion is that for the planning of tourism development in terms of sustainability, political will and coordination of all competent Ministries are needed, speeding up the planning and faithfully adhering to it.
The goals of a sustainable approach to tourism must include the protection of the natural and cultural environment, a concept that includes contemporary culture and the quality of life in destinations. The organization and shaping of experiential experiences for the modern demanding tourist. The equality of the residents of tourist destinations – with insularity being a significant factor – in health, education, and everyday life. Increasing the benefits of tourism for the local community and economy.
The conference was attended by: Sneška Quaedvlieg–Mihailović, Secretary General, Europa Nostra (online connection); Betty Chatzinikolaou, Legal Expert, Tourism Expert, former President of EOT, Chairman of the Institutional Framework Council ELLET; Ioannis Spilanis, Professor, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Director of the Laboratory of Local and Insular Development & Observatory of Sustainable Tourism of the Aegean; Miltiadis Lazoglou, Ph.D. Urban Planner – Spatial Planner, Head of Environmental Policy, ELLET; Paris Tsartas, Associate Professor of Tourism Development, Harokopio University, ELLET Member; Nikolaos Zorzos, Mayor of Thira; Stefanos Poulimenos, Mayor of Central Corfu (online connection); Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon (recorded speech); Robert Piaskowski, Deputy Mayor of Culture of Krakow (online connection); Amalia Androulidaki, Directorate General for Restoration, Museums & Technical Works, Ministry of Culture; George Stamtsis, President of EATA-Athens Development and Tourism Promotion Company; Marco Gasparinetti, Municipal Councilor of Venice, Lawyer, Network of Historic Cities of the Mediterranean (online connection); Nikolaos Triantos, Electrical Engineer, former President of the Technical Chamber of Corfu Department, Network of Historic Cities of the Mediterranean; Myron Flouris, General Secretary of Tourism Policy & Development, Ministry of Tourism; Efthymios Bakogiannis, General Secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Ministry of Environment and Energy (recorded speech); George Vernikos, General Secretary, Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises; Agni Christidou, Director, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels; Eleni Maistrou, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, NTUA, Chairman of the Council for Architectural Heritage ELLET.
The sections of the conference were coordinated by: Michael Jacobides, Professor, London Business School, Strategic Advisor to ELLET; George Lialios, Journalist, Kathimerini; Tasos Telloglou, Journalist, Inside Story; and Yiannis Palaiologos, Journalist, Kathimerini & Inside Story.
Retrieved from: ecopress.gr
