*by Nikos Petasis
“Such a sustainable tourism model has been adopted in recent years by the traditional Myrtos resort in Ierapetra, where there are no five-star hotels operating on an all-inclusive basis.”
Tourism is a multifaceted phenomenon which has a direct impact on areas where tourist activity takes place, affecting both the economy and society, as well as their environmental and cultural characteristics. Sustainable tourism is that which has succeeded in developing to the fullest extent all aspects of a place’s social and economic life. Such a model has been practised for many years by the small community in the Municipality of Ierapetra.
“Such a sustainable tourism model has been adopted in recent years by the traditional resort of Myrtos in Ierapetra, where there are no five-star hotels operating on an all-inclusive basis. Here, all the hotels are small and most are family-run. There are also many holiday flats, as well as villas let through short-term rental platforms. This system enables us to create numerous jobs in local businesses and, consequently, achieve zero unemployment. It ensures a steady flow of work and customers for tavernas, restaurants, pizzerias, coffee bars, mini-markets and supermarkets, convenience shops, butchers and, generally speaking, in all commercial and other tourist outlets. We have operated under this system again this year. Tourism in Myrtos during the current season, which is still ongoing, has seen an increase of over 10% in hotel and private accommodation bookings, whilst all the shops in the village have seen a rise in their turnover. “This would not have been achieved if we had large tourist complexes operating on an all-inclusive basis, which limits the economic prospects of a small community and economy,” the president of the local community of Myrtos, Mr Alekos Pantelakis, told neakriti.gr.
Tourism development on a sound footing
Tourism development, with the right foundations and appropriate restrictions, can be a region’s most important economic activity, but also a key factor in the preservation and promotion of its natural and cultural resources. In Greece, tourism is a key pillar of the national economy, which makes its integrated management essential, particularly from an environmental perspective. Tourism is a multifaceted industry and is not confined to its economic or social dimensions. For this reason, the classification of its categories is constantly evolving.
Tourism, depending on who travels, and from and to which destinations, is divided into various categories. Domestic tourism: This refers to tourism undertaken by residents of a country who travel only within that country. Outbound tourism: This refers to tourism undertaken by permanent residents of a country who travel only outside that country. Inbound tourism: This refers to tourism by foreign residents travelling to a country. National tourism: This refers to the total of domestic and outbound tourism. International tourism: This is the sum of inbound and outbound tourism. Internal tourism: This is the sum of domestic and inbound tourism.
The definition of sustainable development is inextricably linked to sustainability, that is, the continuous and uninterrupted preservation of the quality of the three-pronged framework of economy, environment and culture. In modern times, the term ‘sustainability’ does not relate exclusively to the environment; rather, efforts are made to maintain a balance between the economy, society, cultural elements and the environment. Thus, unbreakable bonds are forged in the relationships between these factors, in order to ensure their enduring coexistence over time.
The first official definition of sustainability was provided in the 1980s by the former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro-Harlem Brundtland, who at that time served as Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, which had been established at the start of the decade. This commission was established because environmental problems were becoming apparent, and it was also recognised that natural resources are not inexhaustible and that the Earth’s carrying capacity cannot sustain the ever-increasing trend of economic development indefinitely. In 1987, in her report entitled “Our Common Future”, Brundtland defined sustainable development as: “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development took place in Rio de Janeiro, where the integration of the concept of sustainable development into national policies was deemed necessary, as this concept had now become widely accepted. A decisive role in the implementation of sustainable development policies is played by the summit of states on land protection, the outcome of which was the establishment of Agenda 21. This agenda addresses the integration of sustainability into the policies and actions of states for economic development in the 21st century and thus achieves a synthesis of strategies that directly link the economy, society and the environment with the aim of development, whilst ensuring that none of these pillars of the framework is compromised.
In the decades that followed, sustainable development began to be incorporated into national policies, as it plays a key role in the direction set out by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Source: neakriti.gr