Creative Commons

This dissertation is written as part of the MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the International Hellenic University. This dissertation explores the aspects of cultural heritage of Delos and to what extend can Delos develop into a major cultural destination. As an important and authentic archeological site, protected by UNESCO since 1990, Delos can take advantage of its rich archeological findings to develop its cultural product, add value and increase revenues of local community. First of all, the current situation is analyzed from every aspect based on literature review. Cultural heritage tourism is a niche tourism market that many destinations across the world are trying to attract. An adequate number of researchers have tried to reach the issue of development cultural tourism. Greece has always been known for its unique culture that is well preserved and inspired future generations all over the world. Cultural heritage has been a tool for sustainable tourism development especially in isolated areas. In the second part of the dissertation, there is an analysis of the primary research conducted on the spot. The questionnaires evaluate the current situation and the visitor’s perspective for experience. This complex evaluation helped to extract vital conclusions for the site. The objectives are: to evaluate every aspect of the site from a visitor’s point of view and segment the visitors from their personal characteristics. Finally, this dissertation aims to indicative the benefits of cultural development, how fruitful can it be for a destination and to understand the consumer behaviors within Delos island.