Ioannis Spilanis is an economist, a graduate of the University of Athens (1979), with postgraduate studies in European and International Studies at the University of Grenoble (France), where he also obtained his PhD with the dissertation “Tourism and Regional Development: The Greek Case” (1985).

He worked at the Ministry of the Aegean as a specialist scientist in regional development (1987–1990). He is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Environment, University of the Aegean. His research interests focus on sustainable development, island development, and tourism planning.

In 2011, he published the book “European Islands and Cohesion Policy” (Gutenberg Editions), as well as the study “Towards an Observatory and a ‘Quality Label’ of Tourism Sustainability in the Mediterranean” (UNEP/MAP/Plan Bleu). In 2015, he edited the “Atlas of Islands” and the collective volume “Insularity and Sustainability: The Case of the Aegean Islands”.

In collaboration with EETAA, he authored in 2020 the “Guide & Handbook for Planning Sustainable Tourism Development for Local Authorities”, and in 2022 the development planning guide “Insularity and Development Directions and Funding for the 2021–2027 Programming Period”.

Ioannis Spilanis served as Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy (July 2012 – July 2013). He was also a Regional Councillor in the Region of the North Aegean from 2014 to 2023.