The Municipality of Kea expresses its opposition to the creation, licensing and installation of Complex Tourist Accommodations in the Territory of the Municipality.
In this context, it requests from the competent Ministries (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Tourism), the South Aegean Region and the Decentralized Administration, the institutionalization of the prohibition of these uses through Local Urban Plans, the consolidation of the prohibition of the creation of Complex Tourist Accommodations in Kea, with population and infrastructure vulnerability.
During the relevant discussion at a meeting of the municipal council, the following were mentioned, among others:
-The draft Joint Ministerial Decision of the new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism, which was put out for consultation on the islands of the Kea category in May 2024, within the framework of the first level of urban planning, provided that the feasibility of defining tourist development zones in areas outside the plan and outside the boundaries of settlements, and protection zones for natural and cultural heritage, natural resources and the landscape, in addition to those specified in the National System of Protected Areas, in which the possibility of building tourist facilities will be limited or even prohibited and in the case of Organized Tourist Activity Receptors, only mild development will be allowed.
-There is a lack of infrastructure (water supply, sewage, energy networks) on the island.
-According to the Carrying Capacity Assessment Report of the island delivered within the framework of the current study of the Local Urban Plan, in order for the Tourism Operation Index of the urban planning standards to remain within acceptable limits, the total number of beds on the island of Kea should not exceed 6,500 from 5,500 today.
-A large part of Kea is designated as an area of environmental interest (NATURA, archaeological interest, landscape of particular natural beauty).
-There is a pressing burden on the carrying capacity due to the existing tourist development.
-It is necessary to preserve the cultural identity, social cohesion and architectural physiognomy of the island.
