Case Study of Milia Mountain Retreat on Crete
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Societal and environmental parameters of ecotourism in abandoned and sensitive areas: case study of Milia Mountain Retreat on Crete Student’s Name: Despoina Fostiropoulou SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION & LEGAL STUDIES A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Hospitality and Tourism Management June 2020 Thessaloniki – Greece Student Name: Despoina Fostiropoulou SID: 1109170006 Supervisor: Prof. Nicholas Karachalis I hereby declare that the work submitted is mine and that where I have made use of another’s work, I have attributed the source(s) according to the Regulations set in the Student’s Handbook. June 2020 Thessaloniki - Greece 2 Abstract 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. Keywords: ecotourism, ecolodge, revival, settlement, sustainability Acknowledgements First of all, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Nicholas Karachalis for his supervision, encouraging me to complete the research the best way I could and fostering, at the same time, my critical thinking. Without his patient and enlightening guidance, the outcome would not have been the same. Subsequently, I would like to thank the academic and administrative staff of the Hospitality and Tourism Management department at the International Hellenic University for their support during the whole time of my studies. I owe, also, an important debt to the people who helped me practically and ethically on this effort, interviewees, colleagues, friends and family. Last but not least, my sincere appreciation belongs to Milia’s owners, Tassos Gourgouras and Giorgos Makrakis, for letting me study their business with transparency. The thesis is devoted to them, to Iakovos Tsourounakis and inner mostly to my beloved grandparents, who taught me with their example that hard work with strong ethic inevitably lead to prosperity. 3 Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Nature-based form of alternative tourism: ecotourism ........................................................................................... 6 1.1 Definition and principles of ecotourism................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Demand for sustainable policies in tourism ............................................................................................................ 7 1.3 The ecotourists’ profile ............................................................................................................................................ 8 1.4 Critical views on ecotourism .................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Managing abandoned rural areas ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Rural areas’ abandonment .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Rural settlements’ revival through ecotourism ..................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Prerequisites for ecotourism development in abandoned rural areas .................................................................. 12 2.4 Ecotourism and sustainability in rural areas ......................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Examples of domestic rural settlements’ revival through agro- ecotourism ........................................................ 14 Methodological note ....................................................................................................................................................... 16 3. Case study: Milia Mountain Retreat on Crete ......................................................................................................... 17 3.1 The chronicle of the abandonment ....................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 The initiative of Milia’s revival through ecotourism .............................................................................................. 18 3.3 Remediation energies for Milia’s touristic revival ................................................................................................. 19 3.3.1 Restoration ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2 Reforestation .................................................................................................................................................. 21 3.4 Local community ................................................................................................................................................... 21 3.4.1 Initial opinions and conflicts of interest ......................................................................................................... 21 3.4.2 Participation and change of attitudes ............................................................................................................ 21 3.5 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.5.1 Visitors ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 3.5.2 Animals ........................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.5.3 Restaurant ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.5.4 Activities ......................................................................................................................................................... 24 3.5.5 Energy management ...................................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.6 Waste management ....................................................................................................................................... 25 3.6 Promotion .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 3.7 Visitors’ survey ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 4. Discussion of findings .............................................................................................................................................. 34 4.1 Qualitative ............................................................................................................................................................. 34 4.2 Quantitative .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 4 5. Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................. 37 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 40 References ....................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 5 Introduction The idea of relating tourism with environment can be detected in the African safaris and the National Park’s concept during the 19th century, whereas