Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

THE ACCESSIBILITY OF INLAND MAGNESIA COASTS, GREECE, IN THE SUSTAINABLE TOURISTIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

EFSTATHIOS KOUTSERIS, Department of Planning and Regional Development. University of Thessaly, Pefkakia 38500, Volos, GREECE, email: [email protected]

Abstract: -The inshore area of each country is of great significance as a large part of human and natural activities is centred in it, whereas at the same time it is faced with certain problems arising from strains and conflicts. Furthermore, due to its expanse, geomorphology and usage, the problems and development potential call for a sensible environmental area management within the framework of a sustainable touristic planning (STP). Nowadays, the sustainable area management is being researched, taking into account new concepts such as the carrying capacity of touristic development (CCTD), the environmental capacity (EC) and the accessibility. In a previous research carried out by the Prefecture of Magnesia, Greece, three were the methods employed for the estimation of the programming sizes necessary for approximating the EC, including also a forecast up to the year 2010; the methods in question were: water, coastal capacity and parking. So, how can the accessibility and CCTD be gauged with regards to the environmental capacity and result in the optimum STP and development? The present article is aiming at rendering as comprehensible as possible the formation, type and form of the coasts as well as at classifying the accessibility afresh in order to research the environmental capacity in a more thorough way. That as an element pertains to the CCTD and provides thus a more effective STP, zoning and development of the coastal inland area of the Prefecture in question.

Keywords: accessibility, sustainable touristic planning, environmental capacity, zoning.

sizes necessary for approximating the capacity and 1 Introduction the CCTD, including also a forecast up to the year 2010; the methods in question were: water, coastal The inshore area of the Prefecture of Magnesia is a capacity and parking. In the present document, there sensitive area of intense activity, faced with various is in the first place, an additional correlation strains on growth; its development was mainly between STP and the accessibility as an element founded on the “random” growth process – based on pertaining to CCTD. Next, the morphogenetic the occasional developmental conjectures and drifts formation mechanism of the coasts is explained and – that characterizes almost the entirety of the inshore a better classification of the accessibility of the (and not only) area of Greece, featuring mainly the coastal inland area of the Prefecture of Magnesia absence of programmed, focused and above all coasts, Greece, takes place, in order to divide the mapped out growth process [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. STP more effectively into zones and lead to an The Department of Planning and Regional efficient development [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9]. Development of the University of Thessaly undertook a research project in 2000. Funding was provided by the EU Program LIFE 96ENV/GR/580 – «Information and consensus conditions for the 2. The sustainable touristic sustainable management of Coastal Zones in development and the accessibility of Magnesia» Greece. The project was administered the coasts natural relief as an element and carried out by the Magnesia Development Authority. The program’s aim was to develop a pertaining to the carrying capacity for regional plan for sustainable tourist development of touristic development the coastal areas in the Prefecture of Magnesia. In The necessity of STP does not emerge suddenly; that previous research three were the methods instead, we become aware of it in the course of time, employed for the estimation of the programming mainly in connection with one of its keystones,

ISSN: 1790-2769 64 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1 Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

which are: control and direction. Furthermore, the moment without permanent environmental directive draft for the viable development of the degradation, ensuring at the same time the ability of Greek coasts focuses mainly on planning the inshore the entire region under examination, in general, to area in a way that will enable it to evolve into a support recreational activities without degrading the “dynamic zone” with width ranging from 2000 m. to visitors’ recreation experience. Consequently, usage 5000 m. from the shore, mostly due to the fact that it is first ad foremost related to certain values and their constitutes the area, upon which, the strain on the upholding or the susceptibility of a wider area to development of human activities is placed. strains and depends on certain environmental Moreover, one of the five goals of integral inshore factors. In addition, this usage depends from management, set since 1997, is the sensible facilities or difficulties of each individual to assess organization of human activities through land every location. Whereas CCTD, apart from planning [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. protection “focuses on the goal of adhering to At the same time, as it has already being certain environmental limits of touristic mentioned, the sustainable development of tourism development, in a region that define its ‘ability’ for forms the pivotal keystone of touristic planning. long-term preservation” [Kokkosis, 1998 in 1]. So, This sustainable development, whether it is specified more specifically, the CCTD depends on five as such or is being mentioned as moderate/mild categories of tangible and intangible factors. The development is related to the protection of the present document focuses on the first category [1]. environment. Its necessity stems on the one hand From a Special Analysis conducted on a previous from the aggravation of the environmental problems research, it is concluded that significant parameters and on the other hand from raising environmental of environmental capacity, amongst others, are the awareness concerning a development of human investigation of the coaches, the protection of the activities that respect the environment and have a near-stream area, the land usage, the long-term outlook. However, apart from its communications (paths) and the accessibility to each correlation to the alternative forms of tourism, in location [1]. most cases, the direction that such a development should take is not defined. Thus, in a similar vein, various research plans have been occasionally 3. Morphogenetic formation drafted for the region under examination, that aim mechanism of the coasts and a new not only at shaping a land-planning and strategic character, but also at defining the preferences and classification of the accessibility of the differentiations of the tourists visiting the Prefecture coasts in inland Magnesia, Greece of Magnesia [1, 4, 8]. However, the touristic As inshore area is defined the geographical area activities are closely tied up with the intensity they entailing the sea and inland part. The sea part is are practiced as well as with the quality of the delimited entailing at the minimum the area expiring services and capabilities of the existing stretching between the coastline and the isobath of infrastructure. The investigation of the natural and 50 m. The inland part is delimited entailing the area human attributes and parameters that define them stretching between the coastline and the boundaries goes through the examination, recording and of its inshore Municipalities [University of the analysis of a wider area and all its development Aegean 1997 in 1]. The entire Prefecture of processes. Approaching and dealing with them in a Magnesia that is under examination is considered as fragmentary way could lead to mediocre and often inshore region. ineffectual process [3]. So, a more thorough reconnaissance study could entail, not only empirically, all the above 3.1. Morphogenetic formation mechanism of mentioned factors and parameters for an improved the coasts approach and management of the natural resources Grasping the formation process of the coasts as well in relation to the development of tourism but also as the factors – mechanisms they depend on, could reveal certain characteristics that the area itself lead to a more substantial comprehension of the lends. Thus, we could pinpoint more effectively the analysis and approach to the environmental capacity degree of susceptibility and the repercussions the and by extension of the carrying capacity. A concise ecosystem suffers by man himself [10]. theoretical approach to the morphogenetic formation Therefore, as bolt capacity in relation to the mechanism of the coasts is presented in this touristic development is defined the numbers of subchapter [Koutseris in 1]. users each touristic location can sustain at a given

ISSN: 1790-2769 65 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1 Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

The sea natural relief and more specifically the two reasons. bed of the sea are closely connected to the First, especially during the winter, in many sedimentation. The depositions occurring in the sea regions occurs a fluctuation in the inshore area of background of materials coming from the inland the coasts, monthly and annually, that alters their cover mainly the continental shelf and the highest form and the surface of the inshore area (e.g. East part of the continental or sea declivity. These Pelion, Skiathos due to the North and Northeast depositions are just torrential, are part of the winds there is a reduction in the width of the coasts subsequent deposition formations [11, 12 p. 19], and [10]. Second, these changes are very interesting, are resulting from the ground erosion. It has been especially about recording the way of approach and argued “that in a depth of up to 200 m. the formation accessibility of the coasts in the STP and the of the relief is almost solely a result of the estimation of the CCTD, that has been already erosion…” [11 p. 201]. mentioned. Besides, it is known through the geomorphology that the isostasis is a theory that reads the morphogenetic motions in the surface of the earth. If the equilibrium happens to change, then upward and downward motions begin to appear, that tend to create a new equilibrium. As disruptive factor can be defined, the heave of weights caused by external factors especially the erosion of the elevations of a mountainous rock, for instance. Due to the erosion, the volume of the mountainous regions dwindles, whereas due to the transfer and deposition of erosive materials in lower regions and depressions there is an increase in the volume of the geomasses there [11 p. 19, 12, 13 p. 94-95]. Nevertheless, let us see exactly how this mechanism works. The flow of each current causes erosion that leads to a hollowing out of its bed. The erosion of the rocks caused by the water flowing to the drainage basins and the beds of the currents, takes place always from the lowest to the highest places and start from a spot that can be located in the bottom of the drainage basins. Because each

drainage basin ends up in a receiver, the point of the Figure 1. Prefecture of Magnesia. Source: [7]. basin in that place is also the benchmark for the development of the erosion and therefore for the Furthermore, “the drift of the sea waters through equilibrium of the current. Many scientists argue waves, currents and the tide contribute in the that it is this point that “the basic or horizontal plane shaping of the coasts, the abundance and size of the crosses, namely the imaginary elongation of the sea rocks, the gradient of the layers and the creation of plane under the surface of the land” [11 p. 63]. dents on the rocks, that is to say they constitute an Assuming that the stream is in its stage of erosive sea factor” [11 p. 146]. “youth” (according to Davis), as such is the case in Consequently, there are many mechanisms east Pelion, then the section lengthwise its bed has a behind the formation and morphogenesis of the significant slope that is more or less uneven coasts, which depend on several factors. However, depending on the gradient, the initial morphology what is of great interest in the present article is the and the nature of the rocks that comprise the bed and act of recording not only the inshore area of the the declivities. In the course of time, due to the coasts, that are accessible to the bathers and that erosions and the depositions formed, the section mainly consist of granular inert materials (sand, lengthwise the current changes and tends to become shingles that are in abundance in August - peak an evener curve with a slight concave upwards, month of the summer touristic period) but, also the namely, “the current tends to a provisional section of rest of the coasts that are more or less rocky, the equilibrium without actually achieving it [11 p. accessible and rocky inaccessible. This happens for 92]. On the other hand, the shelf and the neritic zone

ISSN: 1790-2769 66 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1 Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

are determined by isobaths ranging from 0 to 200 resides in rural areas. The allocation of population metres. Its development depends on the adjacent according to the morphology of the ground yields land and the largest the land is the wider it becomes 75.4% in the lowland population, 14.9% in the semi- (same case as in Almyros, Volos). Essentially, it mountainous and the remaining 9.7% in the constitutes somehow the elongation of the lowest mountainous. parts of the adjacent land and its uneven points If we attempt to divide Pelion, through an constitute the depressions, whereas the peaks are the imaginary section of its peninsula, into three emerging islands in the area of the shelf that are microclimatic parts - East, Central and South - then called continental islands [16 p. 149]. Moreover, it is noted that the settlements differentiate according to the geomorphologists and the torrent depending on the position they hold in certain totals. specialists [11 p.197, 13 p.160-161], the Examining the entirety of the Prefecture land, we phenomenon of the tidal drift, namely the rising of note that the western part has completely different the sea level and its drawing back (ebb and flood- natural attributes than the eastern part (peninsula, tide) that occurs fortnightly due to the shifts in the Pelion). The third part of the Prefecture of Magnesia moon and the sun that affect the sorting out and the (North Sporades), as an insular area, has completely dispersion of the sediments at the bottom of the sea different natural attributes, but is not examined in in the formation of coasts are considered to be of the present article. The capital of the Prefecture is “secondary importance compared with the currents located in the middle of the two first regions. created by waves”. Therefore, the waves have the More specifically: a) Almyros County Region: ability to bore rocks entering the crevices and the It is located in the centre of Greece, in the western gaps of the rocks; this compression could lead to coasts of the Thessaly Region and is intersected detaching whole boulders from the rocky shores. vertically by the road axis Athens-Thessalonica However, apart from the waves and the energy of (PATHE). It consists primarily of an extensive the tide, the sea currents affect the coasts as well. coastal flat and rural area. Tourism in the area of The currents within 200 m. of the coasts are called Almyros is not developed. forward currents, which the sea masses with the help b) The Pelion Peninsula: Contrary to the of the wind sweeps along the scraps at the bottom of County of Almyros, Pelion is primarily the sea and sediments deposits them parallel to the mountainous. The eastern coast is washed by the coast. Depending on the season, they shift as well Aegean Sea and large part of it, mainly along with [Koutseris in 1 and 13 p.159]. the mountainous bulk, is integrated in the protection To sum up, the formation of the coasts consists network Natura 2000, while it also features more of equilibrium of powers and sea- and land- acute geomorphologic and climatic characteristics mechanisms. The latter is significantly affected by compared with West Pelion [3]. the torrential phenomena, namely: c) The islands comprising the North ƒ Erosions, rock weathering, landslides and Sporades are not examined in the present article. geo-precipitations. d) Volos agglomeration: It is located as it has ƒ The sudden benefits of the tide and the already been mentioned, around the Volos’ cove and minimum lack of flow, that occurs during the is a seaport with cargo and passenger traffic. It summer (diet), where the climate acts as an consists of two Municipalities with an overall aggression factor, the geological base as an inert population of 155.000 people and significant active background that receives the energy factor, the relief involvement in the field of industry. The as a regulatory factor and the vegetation as a factor concentration of 75% of the Prefecture’s population suspending the agency of the climate [11, 12 p.41]. and the respective coastal activities creates specific environmental problems, especially in the northern part of the Pagasitikos Bay [3, 8]. 3.2. Demographic and natural attributes of The problem of accessibility easily can become the Prefecture of Magnesia, Greece and the aware and its repercussions in the touristic classification of the accessibility of the development that is also cited in LIFE, as, concerning the road, the western coasts of the inshore area of its coasts. Pagasitikos Bay are quite accessible and easy to The Prefecture of Magnesia, according to the census approach due to the geomorphology. Moreover, the conducting in 2001 by the National Statistical Airport of Aghialos, despite the summer charter Service of Greece (NSSG) has a population of flights it receives, cannot sufficiently meet the needs 207.376 inhabitants. 73.2% of the population resides of the Prefecture. The possibility of solving the in urban and semi-urban areas, whereas 26.8% issue of accessibility by cable-railway lines between

ISSN: 1790-2769 67 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1 Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

the settlements of North Pelion is being deliberated required for the promotion of a mild touristic over. Therefore, obligatorily, the weight is placed on development and the ensuring of the desired type are improving the provincial roads and the sea specified. Finally, the coastal area in a three miles interconnection[1]. width around the coasts can be subject to a “special However, the present article focuses on the protection zone”, as “piscicultural waters” according “accessibility” of the coasts and not on how to to the fishing code and the Greek Low 1634/86, access them. Therefore, it does not represent the same way as the Pagasitikos Bay can be subject to volume of the economical activities or a need for the “least sensitive sea region” regime according to improving the Tran regional transport connections, the E.U directive 91/171 [1, 3, 8, 10, 11]. where the demographic potential is crucial. Zone A: This zone can entail two sub-zones. A However, it pertains to the type and form of the crucial inland zone of at least 100 m. width from the coasts in order to classify afresh, as it has already coastline that can expand when necessary in order to being mentioned, their accessibility over certain include coastal ecosystems. And a crucial sea sub- potential usages. This is achieved by estimating the zone with a minimum extent stretching from the environmental capacity and the CCTD in order to coastline to the 50 m. isobath. Moreover, it can lead to a better zoning and development. entail the already statutory regions of full protection. Consequently, the classification can be as follows: Constructing in this sub-zone should be prohibited, ΑS: Accessible sandy or pebbly coasts. AR: as well as all kinds of construction that prevent its Accessible rocky coasts. IR: Inaccessible rocky function a particularly significant ecosystem or area coasts. D: Various (swamps, industries, building). of outdoor recreation. According to the above, here Therefore, according to the type of the could we incorporate category AS [3]. geomorphology and the institutional use, as well as Zone B: This zone entails the regions that the form of the coasts, they were divided into four should be subject to a regime of protection with categories in LIFE, in 2000, as well as today, when regards to the touristic development (not according we have better technological means at our disposal. to Greek low 1650/86) that are: a) farm land of high productivity, b) the entirety of the Magnesia Classification AS AR IR D TOTAL Peninsula as an area of exquisite natural beauty, c) Pelion Coasts 13.670 3.600 105.680 5.250 128.400 categories AR and IR and all the beaches in the (Aegean Sea). Coasts of the east 25. 860 14.920 65.820 8.700 115.300 coastal zone that are of special interest and that Pagasitikos Bay. should be treated as an exploitable source of tourists Coasts of the west 21.710 11.150 55.600 14.750 103.210 with a simultaneous provision of all the necessary Pagasitikos Bay. infrastructures (road network, spaces for parking, Entirety of the 47.500 26.070 121.420 23.450 218.440 Pagasitikos Bay etc.) and preservation of the beauty of the landscape, (east and west). d) the protected Pelion zone (Natura 2000) with the Percentage % 22,9 12,6 49,5 14,9 100,0 exception of the areas between the boundaries of the General amount of 61.270 29.670 227.100 28.800 346.910 settlements. This region could also expand towards the inland the inland area of Pagasitikos, incorporating through Magnesia coasts. Percentage % 18,4 9,0 61,7 10,9 100,0 “environmental” pathways near-stream extents of 100 m. in both sides of azonal vegetation in order to Table 1. Source: [Koutseris in 1]. link the mountainous and marine ecosystems [3]. Zone C: This zone can entail category D and 4. Zones and sectors, actions, generally regions where controlled touristic conclusions development with an incentives policy and specialized actions is allowed. The management of As it has already been expounded in the above the coastal zone, in the face of the need for STP and analysis the directives and the Greek low starts from development, requires, apart from the determination and specializes in outlining (defining) the various of the specific zones, the next bundle of measures regions according to the natives environmental and regulations per sector of activity [3]. characteristics, into zones. The regions specialized 1. Environment: Generally, apart from its for zones that are subject or should be subject to full protection, it requires the anticipation and protection, namely the regions where every human prevention of negative future consequences, the activity is prohibited; zones that require special designing of a study of the water equilibrium for the protection with a determination of the kind of the sensitive areas, as well as the enactment of special protection and incentives and composed actions layout criteria for new quarries, oil-presses and zones. Finally, all the partial actions and regulations industrial units.

ISSN: 1790-2769 68 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1 Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on URBAN PLANNING and TRANSPORTATION

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ISSN: 1790-2769 69 ISBN: 978-960-474-102-1