[ad_1]
Written by Llewelyn King | PBS
People from around the world are planning to descend on Europe this summer. I hasten to say, not as an immigrant, but as a tourist.
They will clog the sidewalks of Paris, their buses will jam bumper-to-bumper in England’s Lake District, and it will be nearly impossible to get into Venice.
It’s not that Europe is too small to handle the surge in tourists, it’s that some tourist attractions are too popular with tourists from the West, and now from China. The history and culture of Europe captivates and fascinates tourists, whether it is a first-time visitor or a repeat visitor.
Greece is the jewel in this crown, a shining wonder of human endeavor and natural formation. This country is the birthplace of Western civilization, and visitors can trace the origins of Western art, science, and democracy. Visitors can also experience the natural beauty of the coast, mountains, and islands.
I met with Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni in Athens last month to discuss the benefits and challenges of tourism, including what some are calling “overtourism.” Greece has not only attracted tourists for thousands of years, but also has a huge capacity to absorb them. We want to spread that throughout the year and across the country.
Clearly, Kefalogianni loves his job and was born for it to some extent. She is the youngest of a very prominent Greek family that owns a hotel on Crete, one of the largest and most attractive of the Greek islands.
The last thing Mr. Kefalogianni, a former New York lawyer, wants to do is block tourism. It accounts for 20% of Greece’s economy and could allow the country to receive immeasurably more tourists than it currently does.
But there are also choke points. The minister said that future plans are to strengthen this industry by promoting Greek food, wine and vast spaces for safe outdoor recreation such as hiking, mountaineering and canoeing. told me.
The first thing you should do is show the world how diverse Greece is and how much it has to offer, not only in history but also in natural beauty and simple things like walking through the villages. She said that it is important to tell the people.
She wants visitors to spread out and enjoy all of Greece. “Did you know you can ski in Greece?” she asked me. In fact, there are 25 of her ski resorts in this country.
She also said that Europe has a lot to offer year-round besides summer. In fact, summers in Southern Europe can be very hot.
One of the challenges for Mediterranean ports is cruise ships. Cruise ships can now be found all over the ocean. The vast floating city attracts tourists eager to disembark and spend a few hours at their destination.
These are becoming challenges for the host country.
They dock and unload eager passengers, but they also cause problems, from pollution to stress on port infrastructure. Also, since cruisers come ashore for a very short time, they cost very little money considering their numbers. Many crew members prefer to eat all their meals on board, with their main expenditure being on souvenirs and bus tours.
Kefalogianni said cruise ships need more regulation. Recently I observed this problem firsthand. I was on a cruise. The other she arrived in Santorini when five giant ships arrived as well. Ride the cable car (on foot or donkey) at the port to and from the island’s capital, Fira. The result was chaos as there were thousands of people in line. It wasn’t a visit to heaven, it was a version of hell.
Cities in Greece and other European countries also want ships to be based in ports, where they get food and where they pick up and drop off passengers. The beneficial economic effects would then be greater.
The Minister of Tourism wants tourists to know that Greece (and the rest of Europe, a tourist paradise) has attractions all year round. She noted that all summer attractions can be enjoyed with fewer people during the spring and fall shoulder seasons.
There are 6,000 islands on the mainland and the Greek islands. 227 are inhabited and 100 have more developed tourist facilities, allowing swimming not only early in the year, but also late. In February, I saw people swimming on a beach near Athens. They tolerated the water being cold, but not impossibly cold.
Mediterranean Europe is a fascinating place in all seasons. British writer Christopher Hitchens once said to me: “This is where it all started.”
Llewellyn King is the executive producer and host of PBS’s “The White House Chronicles.”
[ad_2]
Source link
