The Water Scarcity and Sustainable Tourism in the Greek Islands: Focus Cyclades Islands

Identifier:  TDX:4374

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4374

Authors:  Atay, Itri

Abstract:
This study focuses on tourist management and water management in the Cyclades Islands, which have faced environmental externalities in the previous 15 years. Since the 2008 financial crisis, tourism has been an important element of Greece's economic recovery, with Cyclades Islands such as Mykonos and Santorini playing important roles. The overall objective of the study is to explore the complex relationship between tourism management and water resources management by having an insight into the perceptions of the stakeholders and decision-making progress in tourism and environmental management in island tourism destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are employed in this study. After a comprehensive literature review, the research is conducted by questionnaires and in-depth interviewing. The questions that were related to climate change, water resources management, and tourism management were asked to key stakeholders in both of the islands. The results show that the interaction between tourist management and water resource management is very complicated, and the majority of stakeholders are well aware of water shortage issues and the effects of climate change on tourism activities. Nonetheless, the findings also indicate that there are significant differences in stakeholders' perceptions of solutions to the water scarcity problem on the islands, with the majority of hospitality stakeholders not viewing the installation of desalination plants as the primary remedy, in contrast to public and water authorities.