Sustainable tourism in Sifnos island - Greece. Efforts and best practices

A bit of context…

Cyclades -Sifnos

Sifnos Island

Permanent population: 2.500(> 500 students)

Surface area: 74 km2

15 km long and 7,5 km wide

Sustainable Tourism for Sifnos

Ensures long-term economic operations

Provides socio-economic benefits to all

Conserves cultural heritage & traditional values

Preserves natural heritage and traditional architecture

Combats seasonality

Doesn’t exceed carrying capacity

Attracting tourists that:

Are respectful

Don’t damage the natural environment

Don’t offend local customs

Accept local way of life

In numbers…

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

May June July August September

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

In numbers…

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total

Total

“

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Sifnos, a place famous for being unfamous.

By Alexander Chee

“On a Remote Greek Island, Learning to Take a ‘Real’ Vacation” in New York Times on July 12 2017

Characteristics of Sifnos

History

Cooking

Architecture

Cleanliness

Pottery

Local customs

Trails

Natura

Education

Municipal & Community Initiatives

http://www.sifnostrails.gr

A project of the municipality of Sifnosthat started in 2015 in collaboration with Paths of Greece

19 officially marked trails

100km of professionally designed and way-marked trails

Recycling & Composting

Placing recycling bins for paper, glass, metal & plastic

Awareness Campaigns (e.g. Door to Door, Presentations)

Offering composting machines to citizens

“Let’s do it Sifnos” 2013-2017

Event started for the first time in Estonia in 2008Concept: ”Cleaning up the whole country in just one day”

In Greece in 2012 (20.000 volunteers) & keeps going…

In Sifnos in 2013 by the Sifnos Municipal Company (DIKES)to clean beaches, villages, paths in Sifnos

This year it started on April 1st and lasted for a couple of weeks => the goal was to clean the whole island

Participation of volunteers, students, municipal authorities, associations, private companies

Sifnos says NO to plastic bags"Do it like a Sifnian!“ Campaign

Organised by Sifnos Island Cooperative and supported by the Municipality, local associations & businesses

In April 15, 2016 implementing Directive 2015/720 to reduce the use of plastic bags

Charging EUR 0.10 for each plastic bag in retail shops

Placing 3 different size multipurpose bags(2,400 cloth bags were bought within the first 40 days)

Awareness & educational activities

According to a study…

on 335 locals in March 2017 (67% adults & 33% under the age of 18):

84% of participants use cloth bags, 91% intends to reduce their use of plastic bags, of which 81% has already done so

How many plastic bags are used in a weekly basis?54% use under 5/day33% use 5-1010% uses >103% uses no plastic bags at all

Energy autonomy of Sifnos -Sifnos Island Cooperative (SIC)

Established in 2013 with 53 founding members, now >100

Towards an energy autonomy plan

Project: Hybrid Power Station (wind park & pumped storage plant) => generate all the energy required in Sifnos through only Renewable Energy Sources

The licensing process, complete construction & installation of the production & storage facilities, until the start of operation, is expected to last 5-7 years.

Enhancement of archaeological sites

Mycenaean Acropolis of Agios Andreas & Museum- Europa Nostra Heritage Award in 2012

Archaeological museum in Kastro

Church museum in Vrysi monastery

Folklore museum in Apollonia

Ancient towers

Important events outside the high season period

Cycladic Gastronomy Festival “Nikolaos Tselementes“-It started in 2007 with 5 participating regionsThis year there were 25 regions (+Egypt, Russia)-Awarded with the Gold Award “European Gastronomic Festival 2016”-takes place at the beginning of September

Revival of the ancient towers communication networkDozens of volunteers at 77 ancient towers all over Sifnosusing smoke and mirrors to communicate (in June)

Alternative tourism package proposal

Cooperation between Milos, Kimolos, Sifnos & Serifos to create 5 thematicroutes through nature, tastes, marine activities, religion & culture

1st stage: cooperation of all stakeholders to create an action plan (complete)

2nd stage: appointing coordinators for each route and collection of material from each island (complete)

3rd stage: creation of necessary material & promotion in Greece and abroad (to be announced)

It is expected to be completed in 2018 & up and running in 2019.

Alternative tourism package proposalFor example:

Nature route: hiking, geology, nature, architecture, monuments, etc.

Religious route: monasteries, customs, local church festivals, catacombs, etc.

Taste route: gastronomy, local church festivals, local products, farms, tasting, Tselementes Festival, etc.

Marine route: marine tours, marine sports activities, diving, etc.

Cultural EventsFor example:

11th Psarokokalo - Sifnos International Short Film Festival(26-31/7/2017)

Speak Easy Camp [Debate Camp] (8-11/7/2017)

Painting classes, exhibitions

Musifanto 4th Music Festival [daily concerts, seminars](4-10/7/2017)

Different music concerts (classical or traditional music, jazz… etc)

1st Festival of Traditional Dances (17-18/6/2017)

Traditional art classes

Organised by the Women’s Association “To Smari”

Classes on:

Basket making

Loom

Crochet

Hat making

Candle making

Soap making

Private Initiatives

Home cooking

Farm visiting

Cheese making

Trekking

Horse riding

Diving

Boat excursions

Historical & Cultural tours

Targeted advertisement & promotion

Sifnos participated in the tourism exhibition “Destinations Nature” 2016 & 2017 in Paris, one of the biggest of its kind worldwideThe expo is focused on hiking trails, climbing, ecotourism, etc.

Targeted advertisement to tourists who prefer low/medium season

Expectations

To increase tourism flows in May, June, September & OctoberNo change for July & August (due to possible infrastructure problems)

To attract the kind of tourist we are aiming for

To develop the primary production of Sifnos=> which will offer year-round job opportunities to locals

Thank you!