How should we develop tourism?

Question

Should we build casinos/clubs golf in …all touristic areas?
Any idea?

We like it or not, most people do not come to Greece for… monuments and…churches.

People want to have fun and relax at the same time. They seem to enjoy beaches, forests but…they would like to be next to… casino or at least to… club golf. Should we build as many casinos/clubs golf close to sea/mountain as possible? This is the point of the question.

My idea is that people come mainly for the absolute perfect climate and beaches, so they can taste aspects of life they just cannot find anywhere else in the world!!!!!!

Fretless any idea about missing the “perfect climate” and having “highways, e.t.c.?” instead? We can’t have everything.
Airpol I agree with you that we remember tourism (and everything else that… has to be done) when it is too… late (everybody wants to be the leader in Greece).

Greece is not Florida or Dubai and it is not… Toscane either.

cpinatsi my idea is that environment should be the No1 in our priorities, mainly because it does not have any sponsors (as for the churches … they have sponsor: the Greek Church)

Answer 1

Increasing the standards on all sectors of the tourist industry is a major step towards it. And that is mostly on the services sector. Is the smile that is missing and that because people working in the industry are underpaid and overworked.

But that is only one aspect and governments do not want to do more than the minimum on the subject. Result. The recent incident on the Corfiot hotel and many similar defaming cases, like the shipwreck in Santorini and the live coverage of it.
They do not pay the proper attention on small incidents like swindling by taxi drivers and restaurant owners. We too, fall victims of that practice, just imagine what a person not speaking the language.
"Living your Myth" may sound grandiose but what do we do,all of us, directly or indirectly involved?
Even on this section there are people that find it far beneath them to answer questions that concern tourists or services.
The tourist trade is a major industry for the country and it affects all of us, but we remember it only when our vacations are at stake. Doing something about it is the question.

Answer 2

For a beginning, we could have some descent roads, highways, boats and hispeed boats (ever been in a ferry? ) and get rid of all the thrash in forests, beaches and other areas.
We can also get rid of all those who rent a crappy room in an island very expensive just because they can.
If this happens we will be able to talk about a reasonable development.
After that we can talk about more casinos and theme parks (private investments). About Golf Clubs I am not sure it is worth the sacrifice of so many trees for some old people playing with their balls.

Edit to add: You call a climate perfect that it is almost the same all across the Mediterranean Sea. Try driving Athinon Lamias to find yourself in an extreme sport. And do not tell me that there are no beautiful places to visit from there.

Answer 3

I think that to start planning for future tourism development, the country should actually take a step back and look at what was the attraction to Greece 20 or 30 years ago. It certainly wasn't nightclubs, cheap drinks and wild, drink fuelled binges where people end up vomitting on someones doorstep, or walking around a village with their private parts hanging out for all to see.

Greece is a place with an immense history behind it. The archaeological sites, the ancient ruins and the various museums all over the country provide a great insight into the culture, traditions and history of the country.

Though for many of the younger generation who visit Greece, these are the last things on their minds, there are many others who do wish to see and visit such sites and places of historic importance. The preservation and promotion of the rich archaeological sites around Greece should be one of the top priorities.

Greece is also rich in natural beauty, whether it be the beautiful beaches, or the forests in the mountains. Eco and Alternative tourism are another area where I think Greece should further develope with regards to tourism. Those who want to visit Greece to visit and appreciate the simple things and enjoy excursions such as trekking, diving, etc, are the types of tourists and travellers that Greece should try harder to attract.

All over the country are countless places of natural beauty and these natural heritages should also be both preserved and promoted.

Many people also have an image of Greece being a place for sun, sea and the summer. What about the winter ??? There are many destinations all over Greece that are ideal for winter holidays, and have very good ski and winter sport resorts. I never ever see Winter Holidays in Greece promoted anywhere. Areas such as Pelion are so beautiful, and make perfect holiday destinations all year round.

I think what Greece seriously needs to do is to try and attract a different category of visitors to the country. It shouldn't be trying to promote itself as a party destinations where youngsters can drink themselves stupid and cause great problems for locals.

If it can attract the older generation of visitor, those who are more interested in the cultural and historic values of the country, then in the long run, it is this type of visitor that can do the best promotion for Greece by word of mouth, compared to the millions spent on advertising with catchphrases such as "live your myth in Greece" or "Explore your senses".

Answer 4

To me, it seems we should really appreciate Greece for what it really is. Not for a "wannabe" image of development. I am wondering what else are the "el cheapo" and miserables going to do for "bucks"?

By definition, massive tourism as a product can never be sustainable. From the time you start having it, it is pervasive, destroying everything on its way. And fast. Check the costas in Spain or Algarve in Portugal. Plenty of malls, hundreds of golfs, even more casinos and then?

Tourists go elsewhere...and if they come, they want everything for 400 euros a week. Not a penny more. Because there is always Turkey for even less...

Asking for casinos in mountains and golf terrains is like trying to import Florida or Dubai in your country. But Greece is not Florida and it is not Dubai either. Alienating the character of Greece will make us look second, cheaper and import the monkey attitude.

BTW, have you ever been to Toscane?
No golfs there. Neither Casinos. Just elegance. And people pay for it.

That's my wish for Greece. But I am loosing the battle here...


PS: I never suggested to transform Greece into Toscane (?!). But to retain it's character and elegance. Not of Toscane. Of Greece...as in Toscane.

Answer 5

I think Greece should invest in quality tourism, and in particular cultural tourism and ecological tourism. This is our strong point, that is why people come to Greece. Or at least why they should. It is not too late. To do that, we need:
1. to conserve our monuments and keep them in a state that they can be visited (e.g. the byzantine churches shouldn't look like a kitsch collection of the priest).
2. to conserve traditional houses and turn them into tourist accomodation.
3. to control tourist services very strictly : I went to a hotel recently and it stinks! The decor was like the home of the villagers who owned it. People were smoking and making noise. An old lady with her everyday at home clothes was at the reception. This type of thing cannot be accepted!
4. The environment should be protected from pollution, hunting, and ugly buildings. The building regulations must change.

I don't know about casinos, but golf courses are disastrous. We don't have the water resources to keep fields with grass like that. It is an ecological crime, and therefore unsustainable development. What I meant with my answer, is that people would go to England to play golf! It's more in the mood. I would even like to play golf in England, but in Greece it sounds "kseneroto". We can't compete with England on golf, we can't compete with Monte CArlo on casinos, so tehre's no point in going into that direction. We must focus on the things we have, which are monuments and nature, and no one else can compete with us there!
The beaches sure, must be clean and with good infrastructure. Water sports are a must. So is skiing, our ski centres should be more advertised.
As for casinos, they are not so good for local societies, who are not so used to this kind of things in the rural areas. In Syros, since teh casino opened, many local families were destroyed.

Answer 6

Frank B
No you are not loosing the battle here,

Business man in the Travel sector in Greece already know that keeping our country authentic is key element to having return visitors.

but services have to be improved as some people mentioned already ...


GiorgosK
http://www.myhellas4u.com
http://geoland.org