Kythera, an island full of mystery and charm, which everyone speaks of with admiration, is at the same time a place that, despite its unparalleled natural beauty, seems to have lost its voice and does not listen to its needs.
It is the island that, as soon as you return from your holidays, you become the narrator of its charm, discovering at the same time that the place itself remains unused, silent, and with a serious lack of coordination and planning.
The opinion expressed here does not come from a passing visitor, but from someone who counts 40 summers in Kythera, with his family being connected to the island for almost a century.
Despite this long-standing connection, he has no connection whatsoever with the municipal authority or the opposition. His ties are with his friends, people who work and own businesses on the island, and other friends he invites every year. There were 27 this year, about 30 of them every year.
But the picture of the island they face is disappointing. There is no reliable holiday guide to guide visitors, no contact with modern digital tools to facilitate their stay.
Road signage is inadequate, the roads themselves are dangerous and poorly maintained, and there is no traffic regulation. Parking provision is non-existent, resulting in an endless river of cars flooding the island's roads, creating an army of vehicles that sharply increase the risk of accidents.
Coordination and organized promotion of the island are non-existent, leaving the island to «speak» only through the spontaneous narratives of the people who love it. Advertising of the island is completely absent.
The famous visitors, who could act as ambassadors of the place, remain untapped. Even the recent Cosmote production, which could have brought global attention, passed without any notable effect.
Cultural events; Almost non-existent.
The coordination of the programme of traditional festivals is messy, and the island's businesses struggle to survive, remaining empty due to lack of staff. There is no subsidized work program to support the local economy, and the shortage of staff is felt everywhere - from restaurants to small businesses.
The perspective for the youth of the island? Unfortunately, non-existent. No support, no motivation to stay and invest in their future in Kythera. The infrastructure is in a critical state - the water supply network cannot cope with the increased demand, often leaving the island without water, a situation that only causes shame.
Apart from the water issue, the absence of a sewerage system exacerbates the situation, with unpleasant smells emerging in various parts of the island, adding an undesirable “note” to the otherwise idyllic atmosphere.
And although we don't expect the airport to grow, we expect at least the obvious: water in the cooler, light in the parking lot, working screens.
Even these basic issues remain unresolved, adding to the overall sense of abandonment. Attracting tourists is minimal, despite the increase in Greek visitors, who are more likely to come due to some random circumstances than due to any organised effort.
Signs to guide tourists? Absent. Busts or plaques honoring the island's rich history? Non-existent. Access to the beaches is difficult and the roads leading to them are dangerous. The canteens, which could provide a touch of liveliness to the beaches, receive no help.
In Capsule, activities are based solely on personal initiative and word of mouth promotion. The restaurants are filling up, but the staff is struggling to cope as labour shortages are evident everywhere.
The events around the 15th of August, the events in the castle, the historical monuments and the beautiful villages are not shown at all. No planning, no strategy to highlight the cultural and historical heritage of the place. People who know the history of the island, who have folklore and historical knowledge, remain untapped.
There is no invitation to journalists for free hospitality, no diplomatic move to make the island known beyond its borders. Twinning with other places, which could bring new opportunities, is an unknown concept in Kythera. And so, the island remains silent, without a voice and without hearing. With so many questions seeking an answer...
Has anyone wondered if there is any thought of creating an info desk at the port, an information centre that would welcome visitors and provide them with the necessary information about the island? It would be a simple gesture, a point of reference, that would make a difference.
Or has anyone thought of placing a large QR Code, which with one scan would lead visitors to all the necessary information about the island's businesses? A digital map guiding visitors to the most beautiful beaches, showing them the way to the most hidden spots on the island, would be a modern solution that could enhance the visitor's experience.
And yet, all that extends from Diakofti to Aroniadika is a cemetery of old machinery and cars. An image that certainly does not honor the island, an image that no one thought to change. I wonder if there has ever been a study of water consumption on the island? Was there a stress test done on the system to see if it can handle the increased needs of the summer months?;
And what about the sewage system? Because, although the work seems to be progressing at a turtle's pace, the smells are certainly moving on, spreading everywhere and reminding us of the problem. What about the waterfalls? Has anyone thought to let people know about the lack of water there? An announcement, at least, so visitors know what to expect?;
Is there a sign posted for St. Nicholas Crassa? A simple railing on the cliff for people's safety? What about the caves? Why are they closed? Couldn't an employee be assigned to manage this unique natural beauty? The barrier at the marina? Is it decorative or does it have a purpose? And if it has a purpose, why doesn't it work as it should?;
Has anyone ever thought of sending a gift faurade to the travel editors? Invite them, introduce them to the island? Or maybe an invitation to foreign travel agents to promote the island to new markets? What about the unregulated building? What about it?;
The road to the river? Soon it will look like Syngrou Avenue, a road without an identity, without any thought of how it could blend smoothly into the natural landscape of the island. What is the municipality doing for visiting doctors? For the newly appointed ones? Where does it accommodate them? What incentives does it offer them to stay and offer their services on the island?;
All these questions may remain unanswered, and the island continues to stand silent, without a voice, without listening to its needs. A deaf and dumb paradise that needs more than words to emerge. It needs action, planning and programming to enable it to find its voice again and make it heard far and wide.
What remains is the people of the island and the visitors who love it. Those who take the time and effort to keep its legend alive, to tell stories, to invite new visitors, to hide weaknesses, to arrange tables, to lead the way, to share secret paths, help with cars that get stuck, host luncheons, publicize videos and photos, bring friends for aerial shots, act as beacons, and send invitations to this «Deaf Paradise.».
A paradise that remains silent, waiting for its voice to be heard through the stories of those who truly love it.
PS - Gift for being nice today: have you registered Sempre Viva? To help, the one that grows in Amorgos and Epirus is another variety.
l'isola ha bisogno di tutto meno che di pubblicità, promozione, giornalisti.
Deve scegliere il suo futuro, se essere stravolta dalla modernità e invasa dai turisti, oppurese rimanere l'ultimo paradiso occupandosi dei problemi di acqua, elettricità, servizi.
Non servono strade asfaltate per andare in spiaggia. Quelle cis ono dovunque. Qui serve di metterne meno di asfalto, semmai.
È incredibile come non si comprenda la via. Che è chiara ed evidente, e che quasi nessuno può ancora imboccare. Kythira per sua fortuna è ancora in tempo. Ma i suoi cittadini sapranno avere il coraggio di scegliere? Sapranno esercitare la loro libertà?
I do not agree with the view of paving, over-promotion, cycladic development, airport expansions, digitalisation, etc.
It reminds me of the comments of a famous person (she became famous because of her buttocks exposure) who said last year that she would never come back to the island because there are no roads (sandy vegetation) and she would break the car...well, never save to come to the island, you windy orange people. Never. Go to Dubai.
Simone, you're right, you're right, you're expressing the view that we humans have that we become one with the environment and the environment recognizes us as part of it now.
I think we all agree that, as Giorgos Sarygiannis says, Kythira is an “island full of mystery and charm”. This is what conquered my husband and me on our first visit to the island 22 years ago and lead us to build a house there. The fact that its beauties are not offered to you “on a tray”, but you have to discover them walking its paths and driving slowly on its dirt roads is part of its attractions. I do not want to judge. Somebody loves to easily reach beaches with umbrellas, canteens with fresh drinks and music (plus the unavoidable noise of the generator). Then why should one insist in coming to Kythira when there are other beautiful Greek islands which already offer this sort of amenities? Why should Kythira lose its uniqueness and become a place where everybody can find what he finds everywhere else? Tourism is indeed one of the main resources of the island, but a sustainable tourism should be the goal. Mass tourism would homologate and in the and destroy the island, its nature and its character. With this in mind, all infrastructural improvements (water, electricity, etc.) which are badly needed, should not only be seen as a way to foster tourism, but taking into account the needs of the locals.
Kythera è stata la nostra isola dell'estate per due volte.
Nel 2006 abbiamo avuto la fortuna di soggiornare a Kapsali in una piccola stanza con servizi essenziali (stanza pulita, lenzuola bianche candide, un bagno con doccia a tempo) vista e atmosfera impareggiabili: davanti il mare, a sinistra il piccolo porto e in alto il promontorio con il suo splendido faro a destra il lungomare di Kapsali, più a destra in alto Chora.
Abbiamo nuotato assieme a una tartaruga Caretta-caretta e appena dentro l'acqua
abbiamo potuto osservare una stella marina.
Siamo tornati dopo 8 anni, alloggiati a Palaeiopoli, per molti giorni e di nuovo a Kapsali per 3 giorni. Non era già più la stessa, sul muro del porto era comparso un affresco per proteggere la tartaruga che temo non fosse più lì a nuotare felice. Anche Chora era cambiata, più chic e meno semplice di come l’avevo trovata anni prima. Sono stata felice di trovare di nuovo il negozio di mercerie dove avevo potuto acquistare delle canottiere in cotone “da sotto” come diciamo qui in Veneto.
In mezzo a tanti locali stile metropolitano avevo paura di non trovare più qualcosa di autentico.
È così difficile trovare un equilibrio tra servizi e rispetto dei luoghi?
Credo che la soluzione sia in primis mettere al centro i cittadini residenti rendendoli consapevoli che se la terraferma ha risorse limitate, l’isola ne ha ancora di più.
Uno sviluppo smodato orientato a un turismo senza limiti può portare benessere nell’immediato ma alla lunga può solo distruggere l’isola.
Non può essere tutto infinito: né la ricettività turistica, né le costruzioni fronte mare, né le licenze dei pubblici esercizi,
perché con dei limiti le cose si riescono a gestire e salvaguardare, senza è la distruzione.