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Geographies of Tourism
Regional Perspectives on Tourism Geographies: The Case of Greece
Paris Tsartas Harry Coccossis Magdalena Vasileiou
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Chapter 6
Regional Perspectives on Tourism
Geographies: The Case of Greece
Paris Tsartas
Downloaded by Aegean University At 01:50 15 May 2015 (PT)
University of the Aegean, Greece
Harry Coccossis
University of Thessaly, Greece
Magdalena Vasileiou
University of the Aegean, Greece
Abstract: The aim of this chapter is to provide a holistic overview of
issues and topics regarding tourism geography in Greece: from its origins to its current situation. By following a historical tracking of tourism
activities in this country and the growth of tourism geography as an academic domain at the university level, the main goal is to analyze the shift
of academic research on tourism from geographical perspective, as presented in both the Greek and English language literature. The chapter
concludes that there is a need for practical orientation and redefinition
of typologies of tourism geographies in order to apply a more sustainable and cross-disciplinary approach in the academic discourse on
Greek tourism. Keywords: Tourism geography; Greece; Greek language;
sustainability; development
INTRODUCTION
This chapter focuses on research traditions in tourism and geography, both
in Greece and in the Greek language. It provides an overview of the major
Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
Tourism Social Science Series, Volume 19, 91 103
Copyright r 2013 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved
ISSN: 1571-5043/doi:10.1108/S1571-5043(2013)0000019006
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
issues which have affected the orientation of research and policy priorities
since the early days. At the early stages of tourism development in Greece,
it was actually the public sector that drove the resultant thematic orientation of academic research on economic and regional development, impacts
on society and the environment, sustainable development, the shift to
special types of tourism, and all of these in temporal sequence. Later on, a
broader and less applied agenda brought the Greek academic society into
the debate on tourism.
With this in mind, this chapter first takes a look at the historical context
of tourism in Greece and then examines the trajectory of academic research
on tourism from a geographical perspective as published in Greek as
well as in English, looking also at the links with other disciplines such as
sociology, anthropology, and urban and regional planning.
CONTEXT OF TOURISM GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH
Similar to other Mediterranean destinations, tourism has been a major
economic force and an important driver for change in post-war Greece. In
the Hellenic context, this industry has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for various important social, cultural, economic, and environmental
changes (Terkenli, 1996). As a consequence, a growing scientific interest—
from within and beyond the geography discipline—has also been expanding
progressively, making tourism into a multidisciplinary field in Greece,
contributing to the enrichment and specialization of research on the tourism phenomenon.
In general, in spite of the fact that at a macroeconomic level there are
various analyses and research activities on tourism growth and its impacts,
a more holistic approach has been relatively limited in scope, especially at a
microeconomic level (the business side). A major part of research activity
on tourism in Greece has been focused on impacts, for example, from a
social anthropological perspective (Galani-Moutafi, 2002), as well as in the
broader field of geography (Table 1).
Approaches toward the inter- or multidisciplinary field in a given country presents differences and particularities depending on its historical,
social, economic, and political development over time. In contrast with the
major European scientific traditions which focused on an academic
Regional Perspectives on Tourism Geographies
Table 1.
List of Literature Relating to Tourism Development in Greece
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Theoretical Framework
Pre1930s
Reinventing cultural, historical,
and national identity—
Tourism activities are
treated as an extra consumer
activity
1930s
Reinventing cultural, historical
and national identity—
Institutionalizing tourism—
Schools specializing in tourism
vocational training—The
academic community takes
increased interest in tourism
Tourism development, Tourism
management, Tourism
geography, Spatial planning
Tourism legal framework
1940s
1950s
Reinventing cultural, historical,
and national identity—
Institutionalizing tourism
Tourism development,
Tourism management,
Tourism geography, Spatial
planning
Economic and regional
development focusing—
Absorbing the Marshall Plan’s
funding—Internal and inbound
tourism development
Tourism economics
Tourism development,
Tourism management,
Tourism geography,
Spatial planning
Author
Lekkas (1996[1925])
Manos (1935, 1939)
Kollokas and Makris
(1938)
General Secretariat of
Tourism (1948);
Manos (1948)
Agapitidis (1950)
Soulantikas (1951)
93
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
Table 1.
(Continued )
Theoretical Framework
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1960s
1970s
1980s
Economic and regional
Development focusing—
Internal and inbound tourism
development
Tourist flows
Tourism financing
Mass tourism development
establishes—New technologies
and means of transport
democratized tourism. Early
steps of an inter-disciplinary
approach to tourism
Regional development
Tourism development, Tourism
management, Tourism
geography, Spatial planning
Mass tourism development
model—First spatial analysis
Tourism development, Tourism
management, Tourism
geography, Spatial planning,
Regional development
Tourism consumption,
Tourism economics
Spatial analysis
Tourism planning, Tourism
development, Tourism
geography
1990s
Mass tourism development
model—First approach to
sustainable tourism issues—
Spatial planning
Author
Logothetis (1961)
Central Bank of Greece
(1967)
Pantelidis (1975)
Petropoulos (1977)
Greek Ministry of
Environment, Land
Planning and Public
Constructions (1989);
Tsartas (1989);
Zacharatos (1988)
Zacharatos (1986)
Komilis (1986)
Tsartas (1988, 1989)
Regional Perspectives on Tourism Geographies
Table 1.
(Continued )
Theoretical Framework
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95
Tourism geography,
Anthropology of
Tourism
Tourism development, Tourism
management, Environment
Tourism planning, Spatial
planning
Tourism planning, Tourism
development, Tourism
geography
Tourism planning, Sustainable
tourism development, Tourism
geography, Regional
development theories
Anthropology of tourism,
Sociology of tourism, Tourism
geography, Presentation of
related theories
Special interest tourism,
Sustainable tourism
development, Tourism planning,
Tourism geography
Tourism cultural heritage,
Tourism development,
Tourism geography
Tourism marketing
Author
Giakoumis and Roua
(1998); MoiraMylonopoulou (1999)
Coccossis and Mexa
(1997)
Angelidis (1995);
Coccossis (1995);
Katochianou (1995);
Lagos (1990)
Varvaressos (1997/2004,
1998, 1999)
Komilis (1992, 1993,
1995); Komilis and
Vagionnis (1999);
Lagos (1996, 1998);
Parpairis (1994);
Pavlopoulos (1999);
Pavlopoulos and
Kouzelis (1998)
Htouris (1995); Lytras
(2002[1991]);
Manologlou, Tsartas,
Markou, and
Papliakou (1999);
Tsartas (1996, 1998);
Tsartas et al. (1995)
Maroudas and Tsartas
(1997)
Sidiropoulos (1998);
Terkenli (1996)
Igoumenakis (1996)
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
Table 1.
(Continued )
Theoretical Framework
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2000s
Redefining the land use and the
benefits of alternative forms of
tourism—Special interest
tourism—Tourism seen as an
experience—Use of typologies
Tourism geography,
Anthropology of tourism
Spatial analysis,
Regional development
Tourism planning,
Tourism development,
Tourism geography
Tourism planning, Sustainable
tourism development, Tourism
geography, Regional
development theories
Special interest tourism,
Sustainable tourism
development, Tourism planning,
Tourism geography
Tourism regional planning,
Tourism policy, Sociology of
tourism
Author
Moira (2005); Terkenli
et al. (2007)
Lagos and Stamatiou
(2006)
Andriotis (2003, 2005);
Igoumenakis (2000);
Kilipiris (2009);
Konstantoglou (2005);
Laskaratos (2000);
Melissourgos (2008);
Pappas (2006); Vlami
(2008); Varvaressos
(2008)
Coccosis, Kyratsoylis,
and Mexa (2000);
Coccosis and Tsartas
(2001); Tomaras and
Lagos (2005); Tsartas
(2010); Tsartas and
Stavrinoudis (2006);
Tsartas, Stogiannidou,
and Stavrinoudis
(2004)
Apostolopoulos and
Sdrali (2009); Vagianni
(2003)
Vassenhoffen and
Koyrlioyros (2007)
Regional Perspectives on Tourism Geographies
Table 1.
(Continued )
Theoretical Framework
Tourism management,
Tourism economics
Tourism marketing
Tourism research
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2010s
97
Redefining the benefits of
alternative forms of tourism—
Special interest tourism—
Tourism seen as an
experience—New technologies
define the new tourism
phenomenon approach—Use
of typologies
Tourism development, Tourism
business management
Tourism economics
Sustainable tourism development
Tourism planning, Management
and marketing
Tourism geography
Presentation of related theories
Author
Zacharatos (2000, 2007)
Koutoulas (2001)
Galani-Moutafi (2002);
Tsartas (2000)
Zacharatos (2010)
Zacharatos (2012)
Coccosis, Tsartas, and
Grimpa (2011)
Soteriadis and Farsari
(2009)
Terkenli et al. (2011)
Tsartas (2010)
approach/scholarly analysis of tourism and its relationship to other sectors,
the case in Greece was in relation and parallel to more general economic
and regional development issues, mostly following private sector and
business initiatives.
Indicative of this reality is the fact that education relating to tourism in
Greece was offered at a practical level, mainly focusing on professional
training for such tourism businesses as hotels and restaurants. Such studies
were offered by secondary and tertiary level public educational institutions,
including technical high schools, vocational training institutes, technological educational institutions, schools of tourism professions (supervised
by the Organization of Tourism Education and Training), as well as some
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
corresponding private colleges. At the university level, tourism-related
studies have only been offered as postgraduate programs since 1998; first at
the University of the Aegean and later at the University of Piraeus. Indeed,
until 2009, there were no undergraduate level tourism studies in Greek
universities. It was only then that the Department of Tourism Economics
and Management was founded at the University of the Aegean, but
was still not fully operational due to economic reasons. In recent years,
some university level institutions such as departments of economics, management, geography, and planning (such as the Department of Spatial
Planning and Regional Development at the University of Thessaly) have
been offering courses and now supporting research, directly or indirectly,
related to tourism and its development. In addition, several institutions
such as the Center for Planning and Economic Research and the Greek
National Center for Social Research focused on tourism research from an
economics, business, and social anthropological perspective.
Recent efforts are increasingly focused on modern priorities and perspectives such as environmental management and sustainable development.
The practical- or vocational-oriented approach in Greek education and
research institutes and the relatively late-coming higher education sector
(only in the last 15 years) have conditioned and defined the characteristics
of tourism research and analysis in this country. The approach was fragmented and oriented mostly to business/entrepreneurship, supporting
the needs of an economy in recovery and development. In many respects,
however, these activities have contributed to policymaking, often outwardly supporting political decisions.
In general, in certain European countries such as the United Kingdom,
Switzerland, and France, tourism was incorporated at an early stage in
other multiannual scientific traditions, in a continental approach. In
Greece, tourism development as viewed from academia was seen under the
spectrum of geography, history, and sociology, understanding the multiple
aspects and the relationship defining them. Within this framework, tourism
research tried to explore the impacts/relationships among social, cultural,
economic, physical, and environmental dimensions by taking a synthesisbased approach (Terkenli, 1996).
Early Milestones in the Development of Tourism
The underlying context of tourism development in the Greek context aids
in understanding the trajectory of tourism as an academic subject within
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99
and beyond geography. The very beginnings of tourism activity in Greece
can be traced back to the ancient world, accompanying commercial and
educational journeys/activities that were boosted by the evolution of
transportation and the invention of scripture and money (Tsartas, 1996). In
parallel, significant sports and religious events in the important cities of
Ancient Greece offered an opportunity for travel and tourism activities,
albeit in a very embryonic state (such as providing shelter and food).
Through the years, tourism literature began to come to the forefront, at
first not directly but rather via the major, seminal geographical and historical works of Herodotus, Strabo, Thales of Miletus, Pausanias, and other
ancient writers, who presented various aspects of the cities they had visited.
In addition, major destinations were considered as spa or thermal springs,
which—following the initiative of ancient Greek medicine practitioners
such as Asklepios (Asclepius) and Ippokrates (Hippocrates)—started
to establish basic hospitality and medical centers. Alexander the Great’s
conquests, followed by those of the Romans, facilitated and encouraged
travel. In the Byzantine era, religious and pilgrimage tourism developed in
Greece and other religious destinations. But in general, the middle ages
were characterized by a decrease in travel activity mostly for safety reasons.
This is a situation that the Crusades claimed to have resolved.
In Greece, in the years of Byzantine Empire and Ottoman occupation,
travelers did not follow the trends of the tourism culture in the rest of
Europe. The years of the Renaissance found Greece under the Ottoman
Empire and the country could not host commercial and other exhibitions
that supported flows, consciousness, and organized development of tourism. Consequently, the literary and academic approach from Greek scholars was limited. Even in the years of the Grand Tour, Greece was not
considered as a safe destination, so only a small number of inspired travelers visited its destinations, often relating to the fight for independence. In
any case, those with access to tourism-related travel during that period
(mostly European aristocrats) managed to visit and this began to put
Greece’s history, geography, and entrepreneurship on the travel map, contributing to its intellectual (re)discovery by the rest of Europe, influenced
by the ideas of human rights, romanticism, the Enlightenment years, and
the like. In this respect, the academic literature referred either to unsystematic personal reminiscences and impressions or, in the case of business
people or scientists being the writers, to technical descriptions of Greek
topography, architecture, and natural resources (Dritsas, 2006).
In the 19th century, Greece followed the overall European tourism
trends, but with a great delay. This era saw the first characteristics that led
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
to Greek tourism development and its massification after the 1960s. The liberation from the Ottoman Empire, the development of transportation
means, and the uprising of the bourgeoisie led to a quest for tourism destinations where people could meet for fun and socializing. Sea and thermal
spring resorts became popular destinations and the newly born state recognized the potential for organizing this new consumer activity within the
framework of tourism and leisure time. The contemporary travel books at
that time (written mostly by visitors from abroad) depicted the way in which
individual travel was gradually replaced by mass tourism catering to the
uprising middle classes. It revealed the way in which tourism appropriated
travel as a series of commodities for mass consumption (Dritsas, 2006).
During the early decades of the 20th century, in Greece—as well as in
other destinations, especially Mediterranean—tourism development was
used (apart from providing an extra income) as a means of historical
and ethnographical re-identification, encouraging domestic tourism as an
activity for the general population. Until the World War I, more travel
handbooks were published, providing details on expanding shipping, travel
agency, hotel, and restaurant businesses. But still, tourism was not incorporated into any particular academic discipline. The only approach mentioned in the archives of the Hellenic Hotel Chamber is the establishment
in 1929 within the University’s Club of Athens of a section dealing with
tourism research and the development of international affairs for students
(Zacharatos, 2010).
Some touristic publications (not of academic origins but mostly touristic
guides or economic journals) depicted the problems which tourism development was facing. They mostly revolved around statistical data, taxation
issues, hotel supporting policies, and related legal frameworks. Gradually,
in the following years, tourism received more attention by the scholars and
the state. Due to the special characteristics and challenges of the Greek
economy, both sides focused mostly on economic development, regional
development, and consumption issues related to tourism. Until then, as
already noted, tourism was treated in a fragmented manner as an economic
sector that had less importance, despite the fact that it was institutionalized
in order to boost the national economy (e.g., via the recognition of
the right to paid vacation, formation of tourism vocational schools, and
establishment of hoteliers’ unions and the National Tourism Organization).
The 1950s saw a milestone that boosted the development of tourism considerably: the formation of the National Tourism Organization and the
capital received through the Marshall Plan. As a consequence, several
research projects and studies were realized in order to define strategic
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101
initiatives for regional and economic development in general and indirectly
for tourism development. In the next three decades, most research and
reviews referred to case studies of areas with important tourism flows and
evidence of development (such as Rodos island (Rhodes), the Cyclades,
Athens) and the traditional spa cities which were “reinvented” (such as
Loutraki and Edipsos).
Development plans had to be implemented to serve as an example for
other destinations. In the 1970s, the term “tourism geography” was used for
the first time to specify tourism-related analysis in a published book by an
academic scholar. Greece focused mainly on organizing tourism facilities
and services at that time, rather than developing strategies. Only in the mid1980s was tourism eventually examined through interdisciplinary analysis.
Ever since the country became a member of the European Union (EU)
and there were funds available for tourism and regional development, academic research in tourism expanded as complementary to and in support of
such EU programs. In the 1980s, the new academic institutions, such as the
University of the Aegean, took an in-depth interest in using an interdisciplinary approach to tourism beyond simple economic analyses. They began
to introduce history, geography, sociology, anthropology, spatial planning,
and new technologies into the study of tourism (Coccossis & Psycharis,
2008; Gospodini, 2001, 2007, 2009). The majority of the publications produced over the course of 1980 to the 2010s are illustrative of this “turn”
and provide the Hellenic scientific literature in tourism geography with
remarkable academic contributions, in terms of both theoretical research
and methodologies. Although this might be interpreted as a relatively small
number of publications, one has to consider the fact that most of them in
tourism (being itself a global phenomenon) were written in the English language in well-established scientific journals abroad (a sentiment echoed
throughout the present volume). Still, while there may be a limited number
of journals available for tourism geography researchers to publish in
Greek, there are certainly an important number of books and PhD studies
in the Greek language that support a wide-ranging network of academic literature references.
Even then, the more enlightened views focused on the problems and
trappings of the (mass) tourism development model implemented in Greek
destinations, especially in terms of spatial planning, the overconcentration
of development in some areas, carrying capacity, and sustainable development, as well as of the benefits of alternative forms of tourism (Moira,
2005). Although much has been written in that respect, there was little
impact in terms of related policy action. From the perspective of the 2004
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Geographies of Tourism: European Research Perspectives
Olympic Games, the Greek tourism geography community provided a
number of studies at many levels and scales of analysis, trying to provide a
conceptual framework for development in terms of rational, long-term
planning, and the need to take it into consideration at state level. These studies also recognized and warned against losing out on major opportunities
presented by such a mega-event, albeit without much success in practice.
In the past two decades, special attention has been given from an academic perspective to issues such as sustainable planning and development
in tourism planning, as the impacts of mass tourism threaten development
opportunities for future generations while destroying non-renewable
resources of the natural and human environment (Moira, 2005; Terkenli,
1996; Terkenli, Iosifidis, & Chorianopoulos, 2007). In addition, there was
an increased effort to rediscover history of Greek tourism in entrepreneurial, social, and geographical terms through the support of digitalization
and remastering of past archives in order to redefine the terms of Greek
tourism development.
Finally, a special reference should be made to the fact that in the last two
decades, Hellenic academic researchers (as apparent through the references
cited in this chapter and Table 1) have tried to define typologies of tourists,
destinations, tourism activities, and products in terms of forming general
interactive analytical frameworks through marketing, information and communications technologies (Stratigea, Papakonstantinou, & Giaoutzi, 2008),
environmental management, carrying capacity, regional development, and
economic impacts, among others (Coccossis & Constantoglou, 2008).
Table 1 presents an indicative list of written material such as books, articles,
special publications, PhD theses, and even conference proceedings (with a
particular emphasis on the early years) relating to tourism geographies in
Greece, authored by the Greek academic community and published in
Greek language.
CONCLUSION
In times of global economic crisis and considering tourism as a global
industry, research on its geographical aspects and its synergies with other
sectors (such as transport, culture, leisure, and infrastructure) is of special
importance. After all, tourism is a dynamic multi-branch activity with multiple linkages to other economic activities. Its impacts on localities and
regions are also of special interest, particularly for specific areas such as
island, mountain, and city destinations. Furthermore, the world is changing
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103
fast, and so is tourism, and more so in Greece, where the current economic
conditions have presented a major challenge to the tourism industry
(Papadoulaki, 2011).
The anticipated and already observable changes in the structure and
dynamics of tourism, such as effects on large and small businesses from the
broader economic crisis, changes in leisure patterns and lifestyle preferences,
shifts in production and consumption patterns, and advances in technology
(and many more related alterations and impacts) clearly provide a potent
platform for research by tourism geography researchers based in Greece. In
this context, policy, planning, and analysis can not only benefit from such
tourism geography research activities, but also provide an important framework for related research. Therefore, it is of highest importance that the
academic and research approach to tourism development is multidisciplinary in nature and scope and that the Greek approaches to such research,
published in the Greek language or otherwise, are rendered visible in the
international scene. The sustainability of tourism development in Greece
needs to evolve on a more practical level, with tangible strategic plans.
There is a vast new area that is ripe for research in relation to special interest
tourism products and activities, while there are also typologies that need to
be redefined within the spectrum of tourism geography, in turn, informed
by the sociology of tourism (Tsartas & Stavrinoudis, 2006). This would provide the foundations for a more holistic understanding based on geographical perspectives on tourism and its fields of theory and practice.