Tourism continues to be the strongest pillar of the Greek economy, but its relationship with local communities is being tested. Dr. Efthymia Sarantakou, Associate Professor of “Spatial Policies for Tourist Destinations, Tourism Infrastructures and Businesses” at the Department of Tourism Management of the University of West Attica, speaking to Tornos News, points out that the social legitimacy of tourism is now a prerequisite for the sustainability and resilience of Greek destinations.
“In Greece, tourism is one of the most dynamic and strategic pillars of the national economy. However, the public debate around it remains fragmented and conflictual. On the one hand, tourism is being promoted as a “development engine”, and on the other, there are increasing voices accusing it of degrading destinations”, says Ms. Sarantakou.
She notes that the lack of a common strategy has led to the absence of consensus and uncoordinated policies, with a typical example being the Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism of 2013, which was annulled by the Council of State two years later due to insufficient consultation.
Behind the impressive statistics of arrivals, some popular destinations are facing social fatigue; the increased cost of living, housing pressure, the burden on infrastructure and the deterioration of the daily lives of residents are creating a new pressure scenario for local communities.
As Dr. underlines Sarantakou, “the lack of participatory processes and policies for fair redistribution of benefits leads to social tensions. When tourism does not “share” its benefits fairly, it gradually loses its legitimacy in the social conscience.”
International experience shows that social acceptance of tourism can be measured, integrated into planning and become a tool for policymaking. In Copenhagen, for example, the strategy “The End of Tourism as We Know It” set the goal of maintaining a high level of social acceptance, while Barcelona reinvests part of tourism revenues in social benefit and housing actions.
At the same time, in Greece, Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) remain institutionally weak, with limited possibilities for citizen participation, which makes it difficult to manage pressures and build trust between local communities and tourism operators.
Ms. Sarandakou emphasizes that the stakes are not only economic but also deeply social, as the development of tourism without regard for the quality of life of residents undermines the cohesion and sustainability of destinations.
“If we want Greek tourism to remain a source of prosperity, it must also acquire social resilience, with transparency, participation and fair redistribution of benefits. The goal is not less, but better managed tourism, based on consensus and not on tolerance. The choice is clear: a tourism that is imposed or a tourism that is co-shaped. Tourism is precious and we must preserve it,” she emphasizes.
The discussion on the social legitimization of tourism, as she explains, must now move from theory to practice, with institutions that give a voice to citizens and mechanisms that distribute the benefits fairly. Only in this way can Greek tourism move from a field of confrontation to a field of shared prosperity.
