Fostiropoulou, Despoina

2020-12-04T01:00:05Z

https://repository.ihu.edu.gr//xmlui/handle/11544/29688

Ecotourism

Village revival

Societal and environmental parameters of ecotourism in abandoned and sensitive areas: case study of Milia Mountain Retreat on Crete

dfostiropoulou@gmail.com

free

School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies, MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management

The following dissertation was written as part of the MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the International Hellenic University. In the first part, ecotourism is being holistically understood by its definition, principles, trends, audience and criticism. Consequently, the issue of rural areas’ abandonment is detected together with the perspective of ecotourism development under certain conditions and practices for their revival. Examples of domestic efforts of this orientation are noticed with particular reference to the case of Milia Mountain Retreat. The Cretan settlement is studied historically for the reasons of its abandonment, the investors’ initiative and actions related to its ecotouristic revival as well as the local community’s reactions and involvement. Also, the business’s operations are examined concerning their sustainability whereas in the conducted survey are identified the visitors’ characteristics, purposes, suggestions and impressions. Subsequently, qualitative and quantitative findings of the case study are discussed for the conception of managerial recommendations. In the end, it is concluded whether Milia Mountain Retreat operates sustainably and, therefore, whether abandoned rural areas’ sustainable revival through ecotourism is possible in reality.

Katsaliaki, Korina

IHU