
The sustainability of tourism was the subject of the discussion coordinated by Professor Michael Iakovidis at the London Business School and was organized in the framework of the 7th Delphi Economic Forum, which takes place in Delphi, from 6 to 9 April, and is under the auspices of the H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
During his statement, the Greek Tourism Minister, Mr Vassilis Kikilias, stressed that tourism is a sector involved in all infrastructure of Greece, even in public works. He noted that a quarter of the revenue that tourism brings to the country should be managed in a specific way that benefits citizens and Greece, while he also stressed out the need of collaboration. Talking about the balance that needs to be struck between a sustainable tourism model that will provide economic growth and new job opportunities and the protection of the Greek areas, he noted that a program is starting in Santorini and Mykonos, so that tourism does not cause any problems to the islands. Thus, as a first step, a “ceiling” of specific arrivals per day will be introduced in cooperation with local authorities. “In December 2022, we will see the results of the efforts made by the Ministry and the private sector”, he concluded.
For his part, SETE President, Mr Yiannis Retsos, noted that sustainability is not only about protecting the environment, but it is also a multidimensional concept, a very important fact we should take into account. He pointed out that, since 2019, a record year for tourism in Greece, SETE opened the discussion on the management of destinations with the aim of relieving tourism congestion in the affected areas and strengthening some others. This need arose, as there were a lot of tourist arrivals in some areas, making it more difficult for citizens handle this tourism congestion. He also underlined the need to strengthen private and public infrastructure with new investments, but also to plan actions so as to increase the tourist destinations of Greece as well as the season when tourists visit our country.
Europa Secretary General, Ms Nostra Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, noted that tourism in Greece should be supported and developed, but, at the same time, the beauty, purity and cultural heritage of the country should be preserved. She also stressed that Europe has embraced the effort to achieve sustainability in tourism. However, she noted that, in some areas, residents feel that tourists have taken over their city and this should not be the case, as not only should the locals not be pressured but they should act as hosts, since they are the guarantee of continuity and preservation of the beauty of each place.
The president of the Institutional Framework Council at the Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, Ms Maro Evangelidou, referred to the guidance report that has been drafted and contains political, scientific and legal elements. Specifically, it elaborates indicators, such as water or energy consumption per user in each region, drawing useful conclusions, while, at the same time, it contains proposals for spatial planning, i.e. how some elements such as the number of natural resources it has should be taken into account, when a region is designed. This report, as she stressed, puts forward ideas on how to reconcile the development perspective with sustainability, while underlining that all players should collaborate without dogmatisms.


Latest News

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)

Mitsotakis Unveils €1 Billion Plan for Housing, Pensioners, Public investments
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a new set of economic support measures, worth 1 billion euros, aiming to provide financial relief to citizens.

Alter Ego Ventures Invests in Pioneering Gaming Company ‘Couch Heroes’
Alter Ego Ventures' participation in the share capital of Couch Heroes marks yet another investment by the Alter Ego Media Group in innovative companies with a focus on technology.

Corruption Still Plagues Greece’s Driving Tests
While traffic accidents continue to claim lives on Greek roads daily, irregularities and under-the-table dealings in the training and testing of new drivers remain disturbingly widespread

Pope Francis Died of Stroke and Heart Failure Vatican Confirms
As news of the official cause of death spread, tributes poured in from across the globe. The 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church is united in grief, remembering a pope who championed inclusion, justice, and compassion