Thousands of visitors to ARCHELON’s awareness-raising events in Rethymno, Chania and Messara
Can an evening walk on the beach be turned into an authentic tourist experience and, at the same time, a lesson in environmental awareness? In Crete, the answer is yes. Through ARCHELON’s “Sea Turtle Beach Walk” programme, visitors from all over the world have the opportunity to get to know one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic species, the Caretta caretta, at close quarters, by taking part in an initiative that combines tourism with nature conservation.
The initiative is being carried out on key nesting beaches on the island, in Chania, Rethymno and, starting this year, in the Kalamaki area of Messara, giving participants the opportunity to walk on the beaches where hundreds of turtles return each year to lay their eggs.
This is an experience that goes beyond the usual tourist attractions. It is not merely about observing a natural phenomenon, but about gaining an understanding of an entire life cycle that has been quietly evolving on the coasts of Crete for millions of years. Participants are briefed by ARCHELON volunteers and scientists on the biology of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the conditions necessary for its survival, and the threats it faces from human activity.
Crete is one of the most important breeding grounds for sea turtles in Greece and in the Mediterranean as a whole. The beaches of Rethymno, Chania and Messara are home to hundreds of nests every year, making the island a crucial link in the protection of the species. The nests are systematically protected, monitored and recorded, whilst every summer dozens of volunteers from various countries take part in fieldwork.
Speaking to APE-MPE, ARCHELON’s programme manager for Crete, Danae Tsaparli, said that approximately 30,000 people took part in the organisation’s awareness-raising activities on the island last year alone, a fact that highlights the growing interest among visitors and local communities in the protection of sea turtles.
As he pointed out, the visitor programmes are a particularly important tool for environmental education, as they help to raise awareness amongst the public and, in particular, amongst children, who are the citizens of tomorrow. At the same time, ARCHELON also runs educational initiatives for staff at hotels, thereby strengthening cooperation with the tourism industry to protect nesting beaches.
“In our programmes, visitors see nests and turtle footprints in the sand, and learn about the life and biology of the Caretta caretta. Through this process, they gain a better understanding of the importance of protecting the beaches where the species breeds,” said Ms Tsaparli.
What is interesting is that this initiative highlights a different aspect of tourism, one that is becoming increasingly important internationally. Travellers are no longer simply looking for sun and sea. They are seeking meaningful experiences – activities that bring them closer to the place they are visiting and create a meaningful connection with the natural and cultural environment.
In this new reality, ecotourism is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global tourism industry. Destinations that boast unique ecosystems and protected species gain a competitive advantage, provided that tourism development is carried out with respect and in accordance with strict protection rules.
Crete appears to possess all the necessary characteristics to capitalise on this potential. From gorges and geological sites to protected marine ecosystems, the island has a natural capital that can support new forms of high-value-added tourism. The presence of the loggerhead sea turtle is one of the most characteristic examples.
Within this framework, the “Sea Turtle Beach Walk” programme forms part of the programme, which this year takes place on the nesting beaches of Chania, Rethymno and the Gulf of Messara. The tours began on 6 May in Rethymno, followed by Chania on 15 May, and from 10 June they will also be extended to Kalamaki in Messara.
Tours take place daily at 8.00 am and 7.00 pm, last approximately 45 minutes and are aimed at families and visitors aged four and over. They are offered in both Greek and English and are led by trained volunteers and ARCHELON researchers.
During the activity, participants have the opportunity to observe turtle tracks in the sand and protected nests, learn about the life cycle of the Caretta caretta, find out about the challenges faced by the species, and understand the importance of the conservation measures implemented on Crete’s nesting beaches.
At the same time, the programme also serves as a tool to raise awareness of the pressures facing coastal areas. Artificial lighting, high levels of human activity at night, coastal erosion and the effects of climate change pose significant challenges to the survival of the species.
It is worth noting that ARCHELON’s tours were recently presented at an international seminar in Japan on sustainable tourism as an example of good practice linking nature conservation with the tourist experience. At the same time, eight hotels in Northern Crete were recently certified as “turtle-friendly” by the TUI Care Foundation, in collaboration with ARCHELON, in recognition of their efforts to protect nesting beaches.
To take part in the Sea Turtle Beach Walk, you must book online and make a donation of 50 euros for two adults and up to four children. The proceeds go directly towards supporting ARCHELON’s conservation work on the nesting beaches of Crete.
The programme aims to reconcile two needs that are often seen as conflicting: tourism development and nature conservation. On the one hand, it offers visitors an authentic experience; on the other, it helps to conserve one of the most important protected species in the Mediterranean.
The image of a visitor walking quietly along a Cretan beach, observing a protected nest or the tracks of a turtle that came ashore at night, perhaps captures better than anything else the transition towards a new model of tourism. A form of tourism that does not simply consume the place, but understands it, respects it and contributes to its preservation for future generations.
Source: cretalive.gr