A study finds that the island avoids the “scientific hemorrhage” observed in other tourist prefectures.
While most tourist areas in the country show a dramatic lag in the number of doctorates per 1,000 residents, Crete is the big exception, following a more balanced development path between tourism and science.
According to the findings of the research of Dr. Ioannis Pitas, professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and president of the International Academy for Doctoral Studies in Artificial Intelligence (AIDA), Crete differs significantly from other tourist regions, such as Halkidiki, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, where very few PhD holders are “born” and remain.
The research records that in most tourist regions of Greece, the “easy” and immediate income from tourism acts as an inhibitor to the continuation of high-level studies, as many young people prefer quick professional rehabilitation to the multi-year investment of a PhD. On the contrary, in the economically weaker regions of the country, higher education is seen as a means of social mobility and escape from poverty.
Dr. Pitas points out that Greek tourism, as it has developed in recent decades, has acted as a deterrent to the production of scientific potential in tourist regions. “Residents of tourist regions are not interested in studying for many years,” he notes, explaining that knowledge is mainly covered by internal migration of specialized professionals. The result is that these regions lack high scientific specialization, despite their significant income. In this landscape, Crete stands out positively. As the professor emphasizes, the island has followed a more balanced course, investing in tourism as well as science. The presence of the University of Crete, the Technical University of Crete, ELMEPA and significant research activity contributed to the Region maintaining a high educational level and avoiding the “scientific hemorrhage” observed in other tourist prefectures. In the same context, he notes that the Region of the North Aegean performs even better than Crete, where the presence of the University of the Aegean and the tradition in education have strengthened the creation and retention of doctorates.
Dr. Pitas underlines that for the future sustainability of tourist areas, a restructuring of priorities is required with an emphasis on education. Strengthening scientific knowledge, he says, is not only about long-term development, but also about upgrading the tourism product itself. At the same time, he calls on residents and businesses to invest in knowledge themselves, taking advantage of the increased economic benefits of tourism.
Source: haniotika-nea.gr