At the International Conference in Kythira on sustainable tourism development, MP of Dodecanese and Chairman of the Hellenic Parliament’s Regional Affairs Committee, Manos Konsolas, emphasized the urgent need for Greek tourism to shift toward sustainability and quality.
He stressed that tourism can no longer rely on past models and must adapt to modern challenges like climate change and overtourism. Sustainable tourism, he noted, involves rational resource management, infrastructure upgrades, energy and water conservation, and spatial planning based on scientific studies.
He outlined key pillars for a sustainable tourism model:
- Investment in diversified and alternative tourism (cultural, medical, gastronomic, etc.).
- Digital and green transformation of tourism businesses.
- Tackling the effects of climate change (e.g., coastal erosion, rising temperatures).
- Modernizing tourism education with new skills and lifelong learning.
- Establishing a comprehensive European policy for tourism in island regions.
