Elizabeth Filippouli, Journalist, Author, Social Entrepreneur, Founder of the Global Thinkers Forumand founding member of Komvos, in her article titled “Tourism, Sustainability and Quality of Experience in Greece” published in Naftemporiki, examines how Greece can balance tourism development with sustainable resource management. Tourism has historically been a key pillar of the Greek economy, experiencing remarkable growth over the past decades. However, alongside the benefits, significant challenges have also emerged: over-tourism, environmental pressures, infrastructure wear, and changes in the daily life of local communities.
In her text, Ms. Filippouli highlights examples demonstrating how Greece can lead in sustainable tourism experiences. From the pilot “GR-eco islands” in Halki and Astypalaia, to small eco-tourism units in Crete and Tinos investing in local products and renewable energy, a path emerges that combines respect for the environment with high-quality hospitality. Similar efforts are found at Costa Navarino, with reforestation initiatives, water-saving measures, and support for local producers, as well as the “Blue Flag” program, which sets high environmental standards for Greek beaches.
International trends clearly indicate that travelers are no longer seeking only sun and sea, but meaningful, sustainable, and authentic experiences that connect them with local communities and culture. Greece, with its natural and cultural wealth, has all the prerequisites to offer such quality tourism. Achieving this, however, requires a strategy: coordination among stakeholders, adoption of international best practices, local community involvement, technology utilization, and continuous education of citizens and visitors for responsible behavior.
The article is part of the series “Node of Ideas – Greece 2025-2040”, initiated by Komvos Secretary General Prof. Konstantinos Drosatos and Dr. Athena Coustenis (founding members of Komvos), in collaboration with Naftemporiki.
📖 Read the article here ➡ Τουρισμός, βιωσιμότητα και ποιότητα εμπειρίας στην Ελλάδα
The main sponsor of Komvos is Piraeus Bank, supporting the implementation of its vision.
