That's how it goes
I heard the other day about a Norwegian lady in her seventies, that has visited 54 Greek islands. An impressive number for a foreigner that got me in the mood to count the number of the ones that I have visited myself. The result was a bit disappointing. I have been to 44 islands, ten less than the Norwegian lady and if we consider that I have been to most of them for work, with very limited time and a very tight schedule, I am sure that the lady in question has enjoyed them much more than I did!
The truth is that the Greek islands are gradually transforming from places to live and visit for the locals, to summer resorts for the foreigners. It reminds me the people that harvest cocoa in Africa and have never tasted chocolate or the ones cultivating coffee in South America and have never enjoyed a descent coffee. The only way for most young Greeks to go to the islands, is to find a badly paid, exhausting job, serving the tourists that are having their holidays. It wasn't always like that but it is now and every year it is getting worst.
I was lucky to visit so many places as a photographer for a travel magazine. It wasn't vacation but it was an interesting job that allowed me moments of pleasure. And that's way more than what the thousands of young fellows working in the tourist industry can expect. Statistics on that matter are hard to be found but I am sure that most of my fellow citizens have visited less that 10 islands during their life time and this number is about to decrease for the next generations.
Of course this model of tourism development is totally wrong. Stripping the islands from the locals is like removing the soul of the place. Travellers used to come to Greece to blend with the locals, see the way they live and apart from the sea and the sun, return at their homes richer in experiences and memories. That's exactly what made Greece famous and popular. We shouldn't forget that the sun is shinning equally bright to many countries around the Mediterranean sea and there are more than enough impersonal resorts for the tourists to visit, not to mention much cheaper too.
I strongly feel that this model will eventually fail but until then the damage to the islands might be irreversible. Regarding both the social degradation as well as the huge environmental impact on the fragile ecosystems of those arid but unique landscapes.
But that's how it goes for the whole planet, doesn't it?
The pictures were taken in July 2012 and July 2013 at the island "Pano Koufonisi", one of my favourite small islands of the Aegean sea. If you are interested to read more about it, I have written this post with many more pictures and info.
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
It is the same thing happening here in Bali, and I am one of the people who are working in the hospitality industry. all the bling, the beautiful tourist spots, resorts, beach clubs, and villas are only for the foreigners to enjoy, and maybe some of the locals who is lucky enough to have better high-paying jobs. But other than that we are all working to serve the tourists just to get paid to get by on life necessities, hardly to enjoy those luxury places.
It is happening, but there seems to be no concrete solution for it so far.
Aanyway, those are some great shots that you have there my friend.
You understand perfectly what I am saying since you live it yourself. Tourism industry is the same all over the world.
Thanks a lot!
(This is my spot!!!) 😍
Nice choice :)
I kept thinking about what you wrote, about tourism and the locals.
It's true that tourism can be overwhelming, so many people, but the locals haven't had to move from there, have they? And on the other hand, I imagine they have other incomes and development thanks to tourism. House rentals, these businesses of bars, restaurants and so on.
I'm not against opening up to tourism as long as it's responsible.
Small scale tourism could work in favour of the local communities but when it gets out of proportions it becomes a problem. In the end it is only a few businessmen who profit and nothing more.
the view is really beautiful, I was very entertained to see it
I am glad you liked it!
Look on the bright side, you have a good few decades to catch up with the Norwegian lady to visit 10 more Greek islands and maybe revisit some others for a proper holiday.
Haha yes, I thought of that :)
AMAZING SHOTS @fotostef friend!!! 💯📷🔝🔝🔝
!discovery 40
!VSC
!PIZZA
Thank you :)
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@jlinaresp(13/15) tipped @fotostef
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I have only been in 5... How sad that, that locals have less and less opportunity to get to know their country. Predatory tourism is a plague!
On the other hand, what a place! 😍
It is a wonderful place indeed :)
Great shots, it certainly looks a very relaxing place and perfect for some nice pictures. Best regards !
Thanks, I am glad you liked it!
I have a friend who has a house in Paros (her husband) and herself in Tinos...well, they can't visit their homes during August..to say the least!
August is a whole different chapter on its own!
Thank you for stopping by :)
Truly a heavenly place. 🤩
Indeed :)
Τί να πω εγώ που μόνο έχω πάει σε μία 🥴 χαχαχα, τη Ρόδος 😕🤷🏻♀️.
Δεν ήξερα ότι η κατάσταση ήταν τόσο τρομερή με τα νησιά και τον τουρισμό 😕, και εγώ νόμιζα ότι όλοι οι Έλληνες πήγαιναν το καλοκαίρι και χορτάζανε βόλτες και μπάνια σε όλα τα νησιά 🤔. Δυστυχώς σε πολλές χώρες μόνο οι πλούσιοι μπορούν να ευχαριστηθούνε τα καλύτερα μέρη, οι άλλοι, όπως και εσύ ο ίδιος το λες, ούτε δουλεύοντας μέρα νύχτα μπορούν να πάνε έστω και δύο μέρες σε ένα νησί 🏝️☹️.
Αυτό το νησί είναι καταπληκτικό 💙 💚, πολύ όμορφο 😻, είσαι τυχερός που έχεις πάει εκεί και σε τόσα πολλά ελληνικά νησιά ☺️.
That's how it is, my dear. It happens all over the planet. Here in Cuba there are especially beautiful places that today are consumed by the passage of man of an inefficient system even to collect garbage. In our country it was even forbidden for a national to visit many of the sacred places only for tourism, just imagine. Anyway, I just have to find one of those jobs that will allow me to go to the islands when I set foot on those shores.
The photos are beautiful as usual in this profile. 😍
Yes, it happens in all continents, in all political systems, in all the "civilised" world. It is a world made for the few and we have to find our place in it!
Thank you!
Keep up the good work. 👏🎵
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