We are in the heart of the tourist season. Perhaps today it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, but tomorrow will definitely be too late for tears... Let me explain:
-We have all received complaints from tourists, vacationers, and residents about the continuous water outages. We all understand that someone who has only a few days of vacation and a specific amount to spend (less than last year, according to all data) is not interested in excuses about drilling, desalination, the network, etc. It just needs water...
-We have all received complaints about cleanliness. Many tourists even ask us if we actually recycle... What should we say?;
-We have all received complaints about accuracy (from tourists) and reduced turnover (from tourism businesses). It makes sense that if you spend around 30-40% of your disposable income on housing costs (rent, electricity, water, etc.), you may not want to or be able to spend what is required for a few days' vacation.
-We have all received complaints about transportation. The airport runway is not being extended (with ridiculous excuses from the regional governor and silence from the mayor). The ship from Piraeus is unsuitable for our seas (we pray that it doesn't get windy). There is no internal transport, the roads are not being improved, and you can't find parking in certain areas...
What does all this mean? Simply that we must take action if we want tourism to remain a healthy industry for our region, an activity that provides income and jobs, an activity that allows you to live permanently with your family in Kythira and Antikythira and not just come here for 2-3 months... Let's call it a «restart of tourism.». In short, we need to rethink our tourism strategy and readjust it. The old saying «a little wine, a little sea, and my boyfriend» is no longer enough to sustain tourism. The information coming in from many parts of the country about reduced tourism this year is worrying. According to surveys, 25% of Europeans and an even higher percentage of Greeks will not be taking any holidays this year...
Fortunately, we still have time to adapt to the new requirements in Kythira and Antikythira, as long as we hurry up and act according to plan.
Let's be clear that the phenomenon of overtourism is real, but in other parts of the country, not in Kythira. Here we have the phenomenon of lack of infrastructure, indifference from the central government, and incompetence on the part of local authorities. Here we have the phenomenon of people wanting to come, but not being able to...
But now is the time for all of us to make decisions. We must decide what kind of tourism we want and what that means. For me, it is clear that Kythira is not suited to extreme mass tourism, to tourists who just want a salad and a beer in July and August... I am optimistic that we can attract discerning tourists, tourists who want to enjoy experiences (gastronomy, walking, culture, the environment, diving, etc.). This type of tourism is spread over many more months, so we can have visitors to our islands. for six months.
We need the right infrastructure, competitive prices, smart communication, determination, professionalism, and consultation with everyone involved in and knowledgeable about tourism. We also need to inspire the inhabitants of our islands to become part of the solution and not part of the problem.
The discussion must begin immediately, under the responsibility of the municipality and the region, with the active participation of all. Otherwise, we will start it ourselves and demand that the proposals we all agree on be adopted.
No one can gamble with the future of this place. Those who cannot, those who are tired or incapable, should step aside.
