Ecotourism in Greece is a rapidly growing industry. Greece has over fifty national parks and other protected areas, including the world’s first marine nature reserve. More and more people are discovering the beauty of this majestic country thanks to these ecological features. With its rich history, diverse landscapes from the coasts to the mountains, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine, the country offers something for everyone.
On your next trip to Greece, you might want to give some thought to its ecotourism. It can offer you a way to experience the natural beauty of the country:
What is Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is a method of tourism that preserves the environment while providing economic opportunities. The focus is on nature, history and culture. Ecotourism has been an important part of Greek history for decades. There is documented proof that the Ancient Greeks were the first to undertake these natural tours.
People visiting Greece can explore this beautiful country and its many wonders on foot, by bike or by boat. One of the most popular ways to get around is by bike because it allows people to experience Greece at their own pace and see things from a different perspective than they might otherwise have access to.
Importance of Ecotourism in Greece
In Greece, sustainable ecotourism is important because of the country’s many natural resources. The Greek government has taken steps to protect and preserve these three key elements in order to keep Greece a place that people can visit, explore, and enjoy:
- Land. More than 70% of this ancient land is protected by law from being developed or used for purposes other than sustaining agriculture.
- Water. The country has more than 300,000 km of streams and rivers.
- Air. In 2017, Greece had the cleanest air in Europe with only 20 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter (the unit used to measure air quality).
In addition to these three resources, there is also a very strong government commitment to focus on preserving and protecting the country’s rich culture, history and antiquity.
Successful Ecotourism in Greece
The Greek government invests a lot in ecotourism and has been very successful with it so far. In 2017, the National Geographic Society awarded Greece as a “Best Value Destination”, describing it as a country that offers something for everyone with high-quality products at low prices. In 2018, Greece was named the third best destination in the world by Lonely Planet, partly because of its ecotourism potential.
Most recently, Greece was named the number one destination for 2019 by TripAdvisor. This is quite an achievement, as it has ranked either number one or number two out of all destinations in Europe every year since 2011.
Ecotourism is a new industry and still has plenty of room for growth as more and more people discover this beautiful country and all it has to offer. There is still a lot of work to be done, but with the many resources available, Greece really has the chance to become one of the most important ecotourism destinations in Europe. The future of ecotourism in Greece looks very promising, and visitors are sure to enjoy everything that the country has to offer.