- Interview to Christina Kousouni
The pressures on local societies from the unregulated tourist development, the lack of water and housing, the over-building but also the need for strategy of long-term transition bring Greek tourism to a critical crossroads.
This year’s World Tourism Day finds our country seeking balance between economic prosperity and sustainability with the human at the center. On this occasion, Angeliki Mitropoulou, PhD Candidate University of the Aegean and Scientific Associate of the Institute of Alternative Policies ENA, speaks to Tornos News about what “sustainable tourism” means in practice, how the carrying capacity can become tool of policy and which steps are necessary for the next day.
The full text of the interview is as follows:
This year’s celebration of World Tourism Day puts in the center sustainability and the human. What does “sustainable tourism” mean practically for a destination and how is this translated into the everyday life of its inhabitants?
First of all, the “World Days”, such as this of Tourism, constitute an occasion to highlight issues that already concern strongly the public dialogue – with first what sustainable tourism means in practice. Especially this year, after also the relevant reports about the course of tourism in Greece, it is worth to wonder: sustainable for whom? For the destinations, for the visitors, but mainly for the inhabitants.
In essence, sustainability must mean respect to the spirit of the place, highlighting of the natural and cultural beauty with terms of balance, planned investments with limits and activities that do not alter the character of the areas. A place is truly sustainable when it remains hospitable both for the visitor and for the inhabitant, without the latter feeling that they are displaced.
It is worth also to stress that, according to researches and statistics, more than half of Greeks (men and women) could not go on holidays this year. Therefore, sustainability now takes also one more dimension: the sustainable destination must be also accessible for all, with whatever the meaning of accessibility signals today.
Separation of the notion of overtourism from that of carrying capacity
In many areas, especially island ones, the inhabitants experience pressures from the shortages in water, the high rents and the increased demand of services. In what way can the notion of carrying capacity become tool of policy to ensure balance between visitors and locals?
At this point, it is useful to separate the notion of overtourism from that of carrying capacity. Overtourism is related with how the inhabitants and visitors live and perceive the pressure – the feeling of saturation, overcrowding or alteration of the experience.
In contrast, carrying capacity is based on objective indicators: consumption of water in relation to the available reserves, consumption of energy, capacity of a beach or a settlement. Thus, an area may have exceeded its limits at the level of resources without this being immediately perceived, especially when the tourist revenue functions as “counterbalance” or at least “weight”.
At the Observatory of Sustainable Tourism of the Aegean, through specific studies, we highlight the importance of the combined approach: participatory workshops that record attitudes and perceptions of the inhabitants combined with environmental, economic and social indicators. Thus, carrying capacity can constitute truly valuable tool of applicable policies: it offers measurable data that help the local authorities to set limits, to plan infrastructures and to balance the needs of visitors and inhabitants.
How the “social contract” with tourism is strengthened
The data show that the majority of citizens recognize the economic benefits of tourism, at the same time however concern is expressed for the environmental degradation and the quality of life. How can this balance be found?
The balance arises through strategic differentiation: investment in qualitative tourism instead of mass growth (different development, different growth), strengthening activities outside high season for every destination and substantial connection of tourism with the local production. When the inhabitants ascertain that the profits stay in the place and that the environment is protected, then also the “social contract” with tourism is strengthened.
But it is about the most difficult “exercise” of planning – and even more of implementation. The role of all social partners and of the local self-government is decisive, because only in this way can the transition to a different model of tourism be supported.
In Greece it is often discussed the phenomenon of over-building and unregulated development that alters the landscape and the identity of destinations. Which model of development could ensure at the same time attractiveness and protection of the character of a place?
The model of development must be of small scale and adapted to the particular characteristics of each area. Instead of horizontal solutions, local plans are needed that respect the landscape, incorporate the architectural identity and promote mild forms of activities. The character of a destination is its very “capital” – if it is lost, it loses also its attractiveness. At the same time, there must not be missing an overall plan for the country, with vision for tourism and strict application of the laws.
The participation of the inhabitants in the planning is more critical than ever
In the public dialogue emphasis is given to big investments and infrastructures. However, many specialists stress the need for participation of the local societies in the planning. How can the voice of the very inhabitants be strengthened in the determination of the tourist strategy?
It was not always self-evident that the voice of the inhabitants must be heard. For many years, because tourism ensured them income and improved their everyday life, they themselves were considered that “they do not have right to speak”. But this has changed. Today, the inhabitants experience directly the pressures and the alteration of their quality of life, for this reason their participation in the planning is more critical than ever. Their voice can be recorded institutionally through local councils of tourism, consultations, questionnaires and digital platforms.
The importance of long-term planning
If we look forward to 2030, which in your opinion are the three most critical steps that must be done so that Greece maintains tourism as source of prosperity without undermining its very foundations?
It is very critical to highlight the importance of long-term planning with vision through the question that you set. The changes in a phenomenon that many still consider “flows automatically” are neither easy nor immediate.
If I must distinguish the most critical strategic priorities for Greece, given the tourist pressure and the combined impact of the climate crisis, I would mention: the strategic spatial planning with clear limits to building and to exploitation of the resources, the necessity for specific and applicable actions of green transition that fit in mountainous masses, islands and urban centers, which however include also the information and sensitization of inhabitants and tourists, and the participatory management and the branding of the destinations with narratives that will not change as fast as a tourist slogan, but will be connected with the essence and the uniqueness of each place, with the inhabitants co-shapers.
