Σάββατο 19 Μαΐου 2012

TOURISM INDUSTRY OF GREECE AND WAYS OF DEVELOPMENT (GREEK ISLANDS AND COASTAL AREAS ANALYSIS)


UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND
BUSINESS SCHOOL

UGB301 Dissertation

TOURISM INDUSTRY OF GREECE AND WAYS OF DEVELOPMENT

(GREEK ISLANDS AND COASTAL AREAS ANALYSIS)








By John Bubaris







Declaration


‘ No component of the work referred to in this project has been submitted in support of any application for another qualification for this or any other University or Institute of Learning

Signed and Date






SYNOPSIS

Tourism is Greece’s heavy industry. The present work studies the particulars of Greek tourism, appraises the current situation of the Greek tourist industry  in detail, discusses the prospects and new trends of the Greek Tourist industry and the different strategic objectives and planning initiatives. Also tries to discuss the alternative forms of Tourism and  a marketing analysis that focuses on the characteristics of the Greek tourist industry and particularly on the characteristics of the islands.
CONTENTS




INTRODUCTION

1.0  LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 Defining tourism

1.2 Significance of tourism

1.3 Greek Tourism Analysis

1.3.1 Tourist Development in Greece - General Characteristics

1.3.2 Economic and Tourism development of the Greek islands and Coastal line areas


2.1 Greek statistical data Analysis

2.1.1 General tourism characteristics Analysis

2.1.2 Tourist characteristics  Analysis

2.2 Prospects of tourist industry and alternative forms of tourism

2.2.1 Prospects of Greek tourist industry

2.2.2 The changing face of tourism – Alternative forms of tourism


2.3 Marketing Analysis

2.3.1 Tourism marketing concept elements and principals

2.3.2 SWOT analysis of Greek tourism

2.3.3 Objectives and elements of a marketing strategy for the Greek islands and the Coastal line areas

3.0  CASE STUDY FOR CHIOS ISLAND

4.0  CONCLUSION

5.0  REFERENCES - BIBLIOGRAPHY



INTRODUCTION

Greece has enjoyed a reputation as one of the prime tourism destinations in the world during the last two decades. Despite the fact that Greece's tourism sector is set for a couple of difficult years ahead with the global economic downturn and the international fear of the H1N1 virus hitting the industry hard, further threatening the country's fragile economy, Greece has no option but to remain optimistic about its tourism evolution.
Greece continues to be a preferred tourism destination because of its safe, low-crime, tourist-friendly environment. In addition, the successful Olympic Summer Games that Greece hosted in 2004 brought increased optimism regarding the future of the Greek tourism sector. Indeed, since the travel and tourism market affects, directly and indirectly, all sectors of the Greek national economy, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the real impact of the industry accounts for 14.5% of Greece’s GDP and represents over 16.5% of total employment.
This study is divided into three chapters, and each chapter is divided into parts. The first  part of the literature review defines tourism and outlines the significance and importance of tourism using material of classic text. Produces different definitions of Tourisms and help us to understand Tourism as an International Phenomenon, as well as the Tourist product itself. We also discuss the political significance, educational significance, cultural significance and economic and social significance of Tourism.

The second chapter consists of a data analysis part, that tries to analyze and appraise the current situation of the Greek tourist industry and in detail produces a statistical analysis which shows the market structure, the types of holidays, the holiday facilities and the different types of tourists in Greece.


The second part of this chapter focuses on the prospects and new trends of the Greek Tourist industry and on the different strategic objectives and planning initiatives necessary for a competitive tourist industry. It is a fact that tourism is fundamental to the Greek economy and revenue from the industry helps to offset an otherwise adverse balance of payment because of the absence of heavy and competitive industry and the present and unfortunately long-lasting crisis in the shipping industry. Bearing in mind and despite the ever-changing tourist environment (strong euro, weak British sterling and American dollar) the future of the industry is optimistic and the forecasts favorable but pitfalls are always there.
It is also tried to give a picture of the changing face of tourism in Greece, its potential and its future by discussing the alternative forms of Tourism. With the term «alternative tourism» or «tourism of specified interests» we define the summation of the completed tourism services, which are characterized by specialized work according to the specific needs and preferences of their customs, apply to a specialized public and count on ecologically permissible and mild activities, while they show off the natural beauties of the landscape without destroying it. Such sort of tourism is the Rural Agrotourism, the Cultural, Ecological Tourism e.t.c

The next chapter includes a marketing analysis and planning, that focuses on the characteristics of the Greek islands and Greek coastal line, using the information, data and analysis of the previous chapters.


The third chapter includes a case study that is based on a Greek Island of the Aegean called Chios. A brief description of the island is carried out, followed by the analysis of the tourist dependability the island has, making tourism very profitable for the local companies. The islands strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are presented conducting a SWOT analysis and finishes with a conclusion summarizing what the case study was about in essence.

Finally the conclusion summarizes the main points of all chapters and outlines the different factors which are very important and which dictate the tourism development in Greece.   Tourism development is a very sensitive subject with several uncertainties. In addition, sufficient attention is not always given to the various problems that arise nor to the integration of tourism into the whole economy and society.


 1.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

The first chapter of the project defines tourism and outlines the significance and importance of tourism. Produces different definitions of Tourisms and help us to understand Tourism as an International Phenomenon, as well as the Tourist product itself. We also discuss the political significance, educational significance, cultural significance and economic and social significance of Tourism.


1.1 Defining Tourism

In a project dealing with tourism, it is sensible to begin by defining Tourism, before we go on to examine the different forms which tourism can take and the statistics related to it. In fact, the task of defining tourism is not as easy as it may appear and can be rather confusing and complicated.
While it is relatively easy to agree on technical definition of particular categories of tourism or tourist, the wider concept is ill-defined. Firstly, it is important to recognize that tourism is just one form of recreation, along with sports activities, hobbies and all of these are discretionary uses of our leisure time. Tourism usually incurs expenditure, although not necessarily so. A cyclist or a hiker, out for a camping week-end, carrying his own food, may contribute nothing to the tourism revenue of a region.
Tourism is further defined as the movement of people away from their normal place of residence.     But again, we must specify how far people must be expected to travel before they can be counted as tourists.
One of the first attempts to define tourism was that of Professors Hunziker and Krapf of Berue University. They said that tourism should be defined as "the sum of phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non­residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected to any earning activity".     This definit­ion helps to distinguish tourism from migrating, but it makes the assumption that it must necessarily include both travel and stay, thus precluding day tours. The weakness of this definition is that it appears not to include business travel, because it is connected with an income activity, even if that income is not earned in the destination country.
In 1937 the League of Nations recommended a definition of "tourist" as one who travels for a period of 24 hours or more in a country other than that in which he usually resides. This was held to include persons traveling for pleasure, domestic reasons or health, persons traveling to a meeting or on business and persons visiting a country on a cruise level (even if for less than 24 hours).     The principle weakness here is that it ignores the movement of domestic tourism.     At the United Nations Conference on International Travel and Tourism, held in Rome in 1963 they considered recommendations put forward by the IOUTO (now the World Tourist Organizations) and agreed to the term "visitors" to describe "any person visiting a country other than that in which he has his usual place of residence, for any reason other than following an occupation, remunerated from within the country visited”.
This definition was to cover two types of visitors.
a)   Tourists who are classed as temporary visitors staying at least 24 hours, whose purpose could be classified as leisure (whether for recreation, health, sport, holiday, study or religion) or business,  family, mission or meeting;
b-)    Excursionists, who are classed as temporary visitors staying less than 24 hours, including cruise travelers but excluding travelers in transit.
A working party for the proposed Institute of Tourism in Britain (now Tourism Society) attempted to clarify the concept and reported in 1976:    "Tourism is the temporary short-term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work, and activities during their stay at these destinations;    it includes movement for all purposes, as well as day visits or excursions."
This broader definition was reformulated slightly without losing any of its simplicity at the International Conference on Leisure - Recreation - Tourism, held by the Tourism Society in Cardiff in 1981:    "Tourism may be defined in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment.     Tourism may or may not involve overnight stays away from home."









1.2 Significance of Tourism

Tourism brings together people of different countries and backgrounds, has a political significance, educational significance, cultural significance and economic and social significance. The degree of significance achieved depends on the opportunities offered to tourists to meet freely with nationals of the host countries and the ability to converse in the relevant languages. In the ideal situation, tourism enhances awareness, knowledge and ultimately under­standing between people of different nationalities. The importance of tourism was underlined by the United Nations resolution that "Tourism is a basic and most desirable human activity deserving the praise and encourage­ment of all people and all governments."
In creating a better appreciation of other people's ways of life and institutions tourism may create goodwill for a country. Each year many tourists travel to participate in particular events ranging from congress to athletic events. Their visits also provide opportunities to improve co-operation as well as to project an image of a country to the outside world.
When traveling away from home, tourists come into contact with the places they visit and with the people living there and social exchange takes place.  Their presence and their social background affect the social structure and way of life at the destination. Tourists are in turn affected by the experience and often carry back home with them new habits and a new outlook on life.
Tourism has an educational significance. In the widest sense it has altogether beneficial effects which bring con­tact between people of different races and nationalities. In a narrower sense, much tourist activity takes the form of study trips and attendance at courses and conferences with specified educational aims in view.
Tourism is often accompanied by cultural exchanges and by cultural enrichment of those who travel as well as   those at the receiving end. Cultural factors attract tourists to destinations - architecture, historical monuments and birthplaces of famous people- are some places visited by tourists;    festivals and exhibitions rely heavily on visitor traffic for their audience and attendance.
In bringing together people of different backgrounds from different countries it therefore has a political and social significance. But the manifold significance of tourism does not arise only when people visit other countries. Internal, domestic tourism promotes similar interaction, between people and places to that knowledge and awareness which may enhance understanding.
The main economic significance of tourism - thus money earned in places of normal residence is spent in places visited - is common to all tourism, whether international or domestic.      Each year vast sums of money are transferred from the economies in which they are earned, to economies in receiving areas where they provide a source of income, a means of livelihood and amenities for the resident population. The outstanding economic effect of tourism lies in the purchasing power generated in receiving areas through the expenditure of visitors who tend to spend at a much higher rate than when they are at home. The flow of money generated by tourist expend­iture finds its way into the overall economy of the tourist destination as the money is turned over and re-spent.
But international tourist expenditure introduces an additional aspect of economic significance as countries which are separate political and economic entities have to balance their transact­ions with the rest of the world. International tourism, there­fore, enters into the balance of payments accounts of individual countries and is of major significance in international trade for countries which generate tourist traffic, it represents an import in much the same way as do the importing of merchandise. For countries receiving tourist traffic, it represents an export in much the same way as do the exports of merchandise.     Globally, tourism constitutes a major item in the world which has shown a much faster rate of growth in recent years than world trade in goods. Tourism as a source of employment is particularly important for areas with limited alternative sources of employ­ment .as is often the case in non-industrial areas like Greece, deficiencies in natural resources other than diverse and scenic attractions.
In addition to being a source of income and employment, tourism is frequently a source of amenity for the resident population of the tourist destination.  The provision of income, jobs, and amenities for the resident population may be regarded as the main three beneficial effects of tourism which applies to a greater or lesser extent to any tourist destination.
They are of particular significance to developing countries like Greece and to rural regions of the country.     In comparison with other forms of economic development an improvement in living standards may be generated through tourism and its expenditure relatively quickly.     No sophisticated technology is required to establish the basic facilities.     As much of the industry is labour-intensive, tourism can absorb unemployed labour resources, which is particularly valuable in areas with surplus unskilled labour. Many operational skills are relatively simple and can be rapidly developed by inhabitants.     To say this, is not to minimize the amount and quality of planning required to establish a tourist industry in a new area but to indicate some of the advantages and attractions it may have as compared with other types of developments.     






1.3 Greek Tourism Analysis

This part tries to analyze and appraise the current situation of the Greek tourist industry and in detail produce a statistical analysis which shows the market structure, the types of holidays, the holiday facilities and the different types of tourists in GreeceThe statistical data that will be collected from the different sources is going to be analyzed in order to specify the characteristics of Greek tourism, and the preferences and particulars of the tourists.



1.3.1 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN GREECE – GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS



      In Greece the Tourism development started after the end of the Second World War. The tourism arrivals from 210.000 in 1956 were increased to 8.351.000 in 1988 and to 18,754,593 in 2007. The 85% of the tourism movement takes place on May-October while the full months, when the 50% of the tourists visits our country, are July, August and September which demonstrates intensively the seasonal characteristic of tourism in Greece. The specific data concern mainly coast areas and islands, which either are specialized in foreign tourism and possess big hotel units, or are specialized in local tourism, mainly under the form of summer residence. The visitors in Greece come mainly from Europe and especially, from countries of the European Union (Germans and British) and, in a smaller percentage, from N.America. Thus, we notice the dependence on the international tourism in our country. The main tourism destinations are: Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Calchidiki, Mikonos and Santorini as well as Attica (Athens) - however lately there is a series of other smaller destinations.
The large number of islands, the archaeological and historical sites in combination with the excellent weather conditions, constitutes some of the most important elements of Greek tourism, which have played a significant role in the country's effort to attract more international tourists and establish Greece as a country unique in welcoming and providing hospitality services to them. However, all the elements of tourism mentioned above combined with establishments, infrastructure and an 'ideal' picture of tourism in the country have certain vulnerable points, which should be attributed to the uncontrolled, unscheduled and sometimes anarchic tourism development of the country dating back to the '70s and early '80s.
Despite all problems, however, tourism has managed to put Greece in the list of those host countries, which attract the greatest numbers of international tourists and receive the largest revenue from tourism while its contribution to the gross national product is approximately between and 10%, and to the domestic product approximately 14%.




1.3.2 ECONOMIC AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF THE GREEK ISLANDS AND COASTAL AREAS
Geographically, the numerous Greek islands have their own particular characteristics. It would be no exaggeration to support the view that insular Greece has a 'Polynesian character', since 20% of its ground consists of big, medium and small, developed or underdeveloped, inhabited or uninhabited islands. Greece has 227 inhabited islands in all, 164 of which are in the Aegean Sea. According to the official census of the National Statistical Organization of Greece, in 1991 only 78 of these islands were inhabited by more than 100 people and 1600 Km coastal line.
Despite the fact that there has recently been a growing concern about the economic development and modernization of the country’s regions, it cannot be supported that considerable accomplishments have been made toward that direction. Especially for the islands, it should be pointed out that the effort for their economic development and growth has always focused on tourism, mainly due to an inability to expand present economic activities or develop new ones.
The Greek islands of the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea and the coastal line areas have undoubtedly set quite significant tourism goals and are greatly attractive to tourists. The tourism development on those areas is of two kinds, there are those , such as Crete, Rhodes, Chalkidiki and Corfu, which seek to attract tourists, package tour buyers, and others which seek to attract individual tourists, non package tour buyers, travelling usually from one island to the next, from one place to an other.
Undoubtedly most of the Greek islands should develop new economic activities wherever possible, as well as alternative forms of tourism, which can contribute to strengthening their economies and generally to a further economic development and evolution. Those islands, however, which have a limited economic activity and no possibility of development or expansion, should focus on a tourism development within their limits.













































2.0Research Methods – Analysis and findings





2.1 GREEK TOURISM STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

2.1.1   General Tourism Characteristics analysis

1)  Entry Points analysis
The statistical data by G.N.T.O (Greek National Tourist Organization) was carried out at the Greek airports, the Greek seaports, the road crossing points and the train stations.     In this way, the survey covered all those tourist who came to the country by air, by sea, by train and by road.
Of the total tourist in 20007 68,51% (in 2006 71.76%) came by plane, 24,86% (in 2006 21,45) by road, 6,09 (in 2006 6,30) by boat and the remaining 0,54% (in 2006 0,49) by train.
The airports of Athens and Iraklion showed the greatest amount of traffic (22,10% and 11,91% respectively). Next in order of magnitude were Rhodes (7,91%) and Corfu (4,79%).




2)       Foreign tourists by nationality and country of permanent residence analysis
Arrivals from Europe, which holds the biggest share of the tourist market (92.7%), showed an increase by 9.9% in comparison with 2006. Arrivals from the European Union increased by 20%. This growth arises from the fact that the total of the European Union includes for 2007, the two member states, Bulgaria and Romania. The majority of foreigners, who are EU citizens, like 2006, came from the UK (15%), Germany (12.9%) and Italy (6.6%). In comparison with the previous year and taking into account the share they hold in the total arrivals, the highest increase is presented in the two members, Bulgaria (62.4%) and Romania (83.1%). Concerning the other European Union countries, there are some minor changes in Germany and UK, a remarkable increase by 5.9% in Netherlands and a reduction by 2.6% in Italy. In the other continents there is a significant increase in the countries of America (12.9%) and remarkable reductions in Asia (-6.1%), Africa (-9.3%) and Oceania (-6.1%).




3)  Purpose of visits (Principal reason) analysis
Holidays, business or visiting friends and/or relatives are the main factors which decisively influence the decision of travel. The survey data suggests that 83% of tourists came to Greece just for holidays. With regard to the nationality of those who declared "holiday" the data attributed the highest percentage to the Norwegians (92%) followed by the Austrians (91%), the Swiss and the British (89%), the Dutch (83%) and so on.
 Business as an exclusive reason for visiting Greece accounted for only 7%-of all respondents.     Visiting relatives or a combination of holidays and visiting relatives were reasons cited mostly by Americans, (8%) and Australians (7%) and more specifically persons of Greek origin who come to spend their holiday and at the same time visiting their relatives.





4. Type of accommodation analysis
The survey showed that 63% of all tourists stayed in hotel-type accommodation (this included apartments).  29% in villas, rented rooms and campsites, 4% with friends and relatives and the remaining 3% in other places (ship, under the stars, etc. etc,) and 1% were transit passengers.
Foreigners' preferences with regard to class of hotel showed 33% opting for luxury (five star and Ά’ class hotels), approximately 30% for intermediate class hotels and the remainder for lower class hotels.
In terms of nationality, 58% of the British stayed in hotels and the rest in villas, rented rooms and campsites. Of the British who stayed in hotels, 32% chose luxury and 'A' class hotels and 26% chose intermediate class hotels.   A significant percentage 13%) stayed in furnished apartments while 10% plumped for villa and country houses.


5) Average duration of stay analysis

In calculating the length of stay in Greece we took into consideration the tourists' dates of arrivals and departures. An analysis of the relevant data showed that the largest percentage of tourists (35%) stayed in Greece for between 11 and 14 days, whereas 18% stayed for 15 to 21 days, 36% for less than 10 days and the remaining 11% for more than 22 days. From this distribution we calculated that the average length of stay in each phase of the survey was I4 days.
The average duration of stay has risen by approximately 1.5 days over the last 6 years. This is because over this time period the number of tourists arriving on charter flights has increased and most of them stay for more than 13 days. The length of stay varied according to nationality, thus 53% of British, 48% of Norwegians, 47% of Swiss and 38% of Germans stayed in Greece for approximately 2 weeks.


6. Average expenditure per person in € analysis
During his stay in Greece, according to statistics from the Bank of Greece, each foreigner spends an average of 74,3€ per day and 847,3€ per stay.
It is interesting to look at the average daily expend­iture by nationality. Below, I present the percentage of the various nationalities, average length of stay, per category of average daily expenditure and expenditure per stay.


Average Length of Stay
Expenditure (€)
Per stay                    per day

France
10,5
831,4
78,8
Netherlands
9,3
884,6
94,9
Germany
11,5
864,6
75,4
Italy
11,2
1.027,2
92,0
United Kingdom
11,9
843,4
70,8
Ireland
13,5
1.143,7
84,6
Denmark
8,9
706,8
79,3
Greece
12,8
554,2
43,2
Belgium
8,7
824,2
94,3
Norway
11,1
796,9
71,9
Sweden
8,9
571,7
64,2
Finland
7,3
515,7
70,7
Austria
9,9
794,0
80,1
Switzerland
9,2
853,8
92,9
Russia
11,3
1.067,8
94,7
United States Of America
21,5
997,4
46,4
Israel
5,7
475,8
83,4
Other Countries
12,5
882,0
70,4






2.1.2   Tourists’ Characteristics Analysis

1)     Gender and age analysis

The distribution by gender of the surveys respondents showed 9% imbalance in favors of the men. Thus, out of the total number of respondents,  54·5% were male and 45.5% female. The distribution by age statistics shows the 16-25 and the 26-40 age brackets predominating with 32% and 38% respectively.
The distribution by gender and age produced a different picture, 41% of male respondents were in the 26-40 age bracket, whereas 30% were aged 41 to 65. Conversely, 33% of women were between 16 and 25 years of age, while 36% were between 26 and 40 years.




2)     Occupational Grouping analysis
In the analysis of the occupation groupings, use was made of the international double digit coding system to identify
particular types of occupations. More specifically, the following occupational groupings were used:


Groups
Occupation
0
Engineers, Chemists, Teachers, Agronomists, Doctors,
Lawyers, Economists,
·Accountants, Journalists, Artist
(Commercial, applied and fine arts).
 
1
Managers and Senior Cadres (In public authority organizations and businesses).
2
Office employees (In the Civil Service organizations and businesses).
3
Traders and sales people.
4
Students
5
Unspecified professions.
6
Those engaged in the communications sectors (Seamen, Airline personnel, road and rail transport workers, Post Office and telephone workers, etc., etc.)
7
Craftsmen (and   blue   collar workers).
8
Those employed in the service industries (Barbers, photographers, hotel staff, etc.)
9
Other unclassifiable occupations (Armed Forces, etc)
37% of the British tourists fall into Group Ο (Engineers and professionals) and 14% into Group 4 (Students). This means that more than half of the total number of tourists visiting Greece belongs to the occupational grouping with an above-average level of culture. Group 2 members (Office employees) also accounted for a significant part (14%) of all tourists. The remaining occupational groupings represented 35% of the total and their distribution was virtually uniform.



3) Tourist preferences by occupation and type and class of accommodation analysis
The results of the survey showed 37% of the managerial class stayed in four star hotels, whereas 21% stayed in five star hotels.  Students, not unexpectedly, showed a marked preference (39%) for pensions, hostels, boarding houses, rented rooms and campsites.
A' Class hotels absorbed 33% of those respondents who did not specify professions (groups) and 28% of trade and sales people.
34% of office staff, craftsmen and laborers stayed in intermediate class accommodation, whereas the respective figure for those in the engineering sector, the professional and the Civil Service was 31%. Of the self-employed, 7% stayed with friends and relatives, while 5% of those engaged in the transport and accommodation industry stayed in other forms of lodging (ships, etc.)

4) Cost of stay analysis
More than half (55%)  of all the tourists polled come to Greece on a packaged holiday. 66% of the British asked to comment on the cost of their stay in Greece found it reasonable and within their budget, 25% thought it low (cheap) and only 5% found it high (expensive).



5) Reasons for choosing Greece as a holiday destination analysis
The climate and the classical sights were the principal reasons (75%) given by British queried for choosing Greece for a holiday.


6) Publicity media and other factors influencing tourists' choice of Greece on their first visit analysis
An analysis of the data shows that 32% of the tourists visiting Greece for the first time acquired information on .the country from friends and relatives. This conclusion is particularly significant as it shows that a large proportion of first-time visitors to Greece go home satisfied and recommend Greece as an ideal holiday destination to their friends and relatives.
The second most important source of information was travel agents, who influenced 40% of the British.
Publicity (Newspapers, magazines, radio, Internet etc.) acquainted 49% of all British with Greece, other sources (Posters, books etc.) accounted for 7%·
Finally, 17% had heard about Greece from more than one source (e.g., friends, internet and media).

7) Places visited and stayed at analysis
The statistics say, 33% stayed in the greater Athens area, (Athens, Piraeus, Attica coasts, Saronic Gulf Island). Other main areas of preference were Rhodes (25%), Crete (21%) the Peloponnesian and Ionian Islands (Corfu excepted) 17%. The Cyclades 14% and Corfu 14%. The favorite destinations of the British continues to be Corfu (40%) followed by Rhodes (26%), Crete (19%) and the Athens region (15%).



8) Tourist Mobility within Greece analysis
As regards tourist mobility during the period of the survey, the following was observed:    Every tourist polled on average visited and stayed in 1.5 places.     More specifically 66% of the tourists visited and stayed in only one area, 19% stayed in two and the remaining 15%' in three and more than three areas.
In terms of nationality, 87% of the British stayed in one area. This virtual immobility on the part of the British is due to the fact that as the majority of British holiday makers come to Greece on organized charter flights, they do not stay far from their resort area.
Following the British in the immobility stakes are the Japanese (85%) the Norwegians and the Swedes (84%), the Yugoslavs (77%) and the Austrians with (72%). Finally, more than one area was visited by the Spaniards (72%), the Canadians (70%), the Americans (64%), the French (62%), the Italians (52%) and so on.


9)    Previous visits analysis
58% of the tourists surveyed were visiting Greece for the first time since a 2007, whereas the remaining 42% had been to Greece more than once before.  This fact is particularly significant as these people constitute a living and product­ive advertisement of Greece abroad with all that entails in terms of positive and beneficial tourist flows.
Of the tourists who had visited Greece before since 2007, 17% were returning for the second time, 11% for the third time, 6% for the fourth time and the remaining 8% for the fifth or more time.
The greatest number of repeat visits to Greece was made by the Yugoslavs, of whom 66% had visited Greece more than once before.
Following them, in terms of % of the total number of a country visitors were the British (53%), the Austrians (50%), the Swedes (45%), the Germans, Swiss and Dutch with 44% and so on.




10)     Foreign Tourists' Impressions  analysis
Judging by the answers given to the relevant questions, as well as the opinions and impressions noted by the respondent, it appears that a large majority (67%) had no complaints about Greece, while 33% noted deficiencies in various tourist services.
The complaints registered were diverse to categorize neatly. However, the most frequent complaint had to do with the hotels breakfast, the state of some public facilities, general­ly toilets in railway stations and elsewhere, dirty beaches, etc. Dissatisfaction was also noted with the poor condition of the   means of public transport, delays, a lack of consistence in tour operator and travel agencies' arrangements and museum opening times.


2.2 Prospects of the Greek tourist industry and alternative forms of tourism

The next part of the project focuses on the prospects and new trends of the Greek Tourist industry and on the different strategic objectives and planning initiatives necessary for a competitive tourist industry.
A picture of the changing face of tourism in Greece, its potential and its future will be proposed, by discussing the alternative forms of Tourism. With the term «alternative tourism» or «tourism of specified interests» we define the summation of the completed tourism services, which are characterized by specialized work according to the specific needs and preferences of their customs, apply to a specialized public and count on ecologically permissible and mild activities, while they show off the natural beauties of the landscape without destroying it. Such sort of tourism is  Rural Agrotourism, Cultural tourism, Ecological tourism e.t.c

2.2.1 PROSPECTS OF THE GREEK TOURIST INDUSTRY

The major goals of Greek tourist policy are the creating of a competitive and efficient tourist industry and the balanced development of tourism in relation to other sections of the economy.

Some of the strategic aims that policies should be aiming to include:
·         Increased competitiveness.
·         Upgraded services.
·         Introduction of incentives to encourage the development of new poles of tourist attraction.
·         Reshuffling of tourist supply and demand to new outlying areas
·         Protection of cultural environment. .
·         Ending development in saturated areas.
·         Extending the tourist season.
·         Promoting of new forms of tourism.
·         Strengthening of domestic and social tourism.
·          Updating the legislative framework governing the tourist sector.
·         Reorganization and decentralization of the national tourist services.
·         Education and training of tourist personnel.
·         The intensification of advertising, promoting tourism both within Greece and abroad.

It is obvious that the above strategic aims that policies reflect an attempt to confront problems already existing in Greek tourism which are related to the seasonal and regional distribution of demand,  the rendering of services and the way that tourist sector is organized and run.

Mechanisms for making these goals a reality take the form of legislative and economic measures referring to administrative organization, incentives to stimulate private investments and tourist development projects.

The European and national guidelines regarding tourist development provide the general frame­work for reinforcing investment in the tourist sector. The number of investments coming under this framework in the past decade is considered more than satisfactory.  European and national incentives and the Greek banking system offer support to such investments.

As far as these provisions are concerned, the G.N.T.O. (Greek National Tourism Organisation) feels that investments should be directed at:
·         Strengthening tourist establishments which contribute to the development of special forms of tourism
·         Enriching facilities offered (supplementary cultural installations etc.)
·         Boosting frontier districts.
·         Encouraging the creation of tourist enterprises by local authorities and organizations.
·         Discouraging the creation of new sites in saturated areas through the denial of applications or withholding of financing.
·         Incentives to convert traditional building into tourist accommodation.
·         The awarding of loan should also depend on the viability of the units, the suitability of the enterprises and the usual criteria employed to evaluate tourist investments.


2.2.2 THE CHANGING FACE OF TOURISM – ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TOURISM

Tourism seems to be changing as far as the demands of world tourism is concerned. The tourist-consumer is no longer satisfied simply with the lure of hot sun and clean seas and is steadily moving towards other ways of spending his/her spare time.
Under these circumstances, the contemporary tourist industry has no choice but to start to exploit new possibilities and to promote options that have been overlooked in the past, such as alternative forms of tourism that focus on interest in ecology, rural life, education,  culture, history, mountain­eering and so forth.
In Greece, over the last two decades, an attempt is being made to change the identity of tourism by shifting the emphasis from foreign exchange to development of the human centered element, while at the same time proceeding along conventional lines. With the development of these alternative forms of tourism, the human dimension and its cultural and civilizing roles are stressed.

In doing so, the policy makers on tourism must aim to:
·         Offer foreign tourists higher quality holidays, that recreation will give them the chance to establish a more positive contact with natives as well as a closer and substantial acquaintance with the Greek people, their customs, way of life and traditions.
·         Contribute to the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the country,

The development of alternative forms of tourism is the answer to the above question. The different parties involved in Tourism development such as the state, tourist agencies and the tourist business have come to realize that alternative tourism is an industry in the sense of a modern activity, deliberately organized with the aim of producing a marketed product.

The most central element is probably community participation, which is felt to be a prerequisite for the sustainability of all tourism projects. The positive development is furthermore enhanced by the fact that local people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers posed by environmental degradation.

Tourism should be promoted only in so far as it brings the host population the desired economic benefits, above all in the form of incomes and jobs, where this benefit is of a durable nature and does not have an adverse effect on the other qualities of life. A successful tourism program must furthermore bring direct assistance, contribute to the well being and improve the quality of the life of the population involved.


The special and alternative forms of tourism may be developed in Greece are analysed below with some of the prerequisites – strategic aims, which should be in force in order these alternative forms of tourist materialised and produce results.

a) Ecological tourism
Common features of all the special alternative forms of tourism are the possibility for their harmonious integration into the environment and their emphasis on the human factor. To be more specific, the development of ecological tourism provides is the promotion of Greece's rare habitats, thus ensuring their protection. Contrary to popular belief, the develop­ment of tourism in sensitive environments can contribute towards the preservation of their ecological balance, while neglect, far from being beneficial, leads to their degradation and eventual destruction.
Furthermore, within, the framework of a program of Ecological tourism, the
creation of a Centre for Ecological Research in places of Ecological interest
will assist both research and education, in addition to tourism,  by attracting groups from universities and other organizations with special interest in ecology and the environment.
Obviously, Ecological tourism is also directed at serving many other groups of tourist, such as nature lovers, mountain climbers and others with similar educational motives.     It should be noted the specific regions of natural beauty especially the mountainous ones and the islands face serious economic and demographic problems. The upgrading of these regions for tourism will end their long lasting isolation and will help to bring about a rise in their standard of living, creating the preconditions necessary for the returning of younger people by creating successful business in tourism.
Also enormous are the possibilities of promoting hiking as a form of tourism that respects and enhances the environment. This activity has not been explored in Greece, it has been developed in other countries having fewer environmental resources.
The G.N.T.O (Greek National Tourism Organisation), the Ministry of Agriculture and non-profit making groups (excursion clubs, mountaineering associations) can seek ways of developing and promoting ecological tourism.

Strategic aims:
   Ö     Providing special installations to develop 'active' holidays' with specific activities, like bird-watching, mountain-cycling, trekking, kayaking, canoeing; mountaineering; hang-gliding; skin-diving; snorkelling etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Ö           Discovering 'virgin' areas which have not enjoyed high tourist development as yet.
Ö           Planning, promoting and projecting special nature-exploring routes.
       Ö     Providing promotion activities (e.g. guide-material) of tourist areas of an ecological dimension.  
     Ö          Defining and completing routes (paths, road-marking, signposting, observation posts, mountaineering shelters). 
       Ö     Showing respect for and providing protection of local and environmental infrastructures.
Ö           Forming an institutional framework to encourage environmental training initiatives.

b) Rural tourism Agrotourism

One of the focus points of Greece’ s tourist policy in the last twenty years has been to come to terms with the problem of seasonality, the geographic redistribution of tourist mobility and the promotion of new regions. One way that can be achieved is by focusing on the development of alter­native forms of tourism and rural tourism falls under this heading.
Agroturism has a long tradition in Greece. There is a permanent working team consisting of representatives of government agencies and other organizations which had already started programmes for rural tourism or which were studying the feasibility of such programmes. The task of this team is to elaborate the legal framework, general out­lines and development incentive for rural tourism as well as to consolidate the relevant programmes of the various parties for the purpose of co-coordinating them and including them in the national program for rural tourism. Various programmes already being conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Youth and the Council of Sexual Equality, in the Zagoria (Epirus), Fetra (Mitilini), Pirgi (Chios), Western Crete and other parts of Greece.
In June 1984 saw the start of the first Women's Agrotourist Co-operative in Petra on the island of Lesvos and still the best Women's Agrotourist Co-operative today. It is composed of 30 women who have rearranged their homes in order to rent rooms to visitors. At the same time, again in Mitilni, the first Rural Co-operative Tourist and Travel Bureau was founded by the Union of Agricultural Co-operatives of Lesvos. It is worth noting that the program to set up the Bureau was financed as model activity by the EU, which covered the cost of furnishing the office, running expenses for the first year, promoting and advertising.
The three most important women's Agrotourist Co-operatives are in Mitilini, in Chios and in the village of Ambelakia in Thessaly.  They contain a total of 419 beds (280 in Petra, 55 in Ambelakia and 64 in four villages in Chios).    

Strategic aims:
   Ö Accomplishing a traditional standardisation of agricultural produce and creating permanent exhibits of biological products.
       Ö     Providing boarding accommodations, local cultural activities, outdoor activities, information to tourists.
       Ö     Reviving traditional settlements, old mansions and restoring traditional buildings.
       Ö     Reorganising domestic traditional activities, like: stock-breeding; dairy produce; production-standardisation of traditional pastries; traditional handicrafts (woven, needlework items etc.)
       Ö     Showing understanding and being sensitised in respect of the value of nature, its resources and of how it should be protected.
Ö      Creating 'green packages of tourism' on the part of tour operators.

c) Cultural and Educational Tourism
The development of cultural tourism is another primary target with a framework of the special incentives introduced to promote a series of cultural related activities. It involves the creation of programmes of guided tours of museums and archaeological sites etc. For this program to succeed, the co-operation of the Guides Union, Travel Agents with G.N.T.O. (Greek National Tourism Organisation), is essential. These may also include cultural foundations abroad, cultural associations and schools where Greek history and archaeology are taught, promotional admissions to archaeological sites and museums for groups from classical secondary schools and free guided tours by foreign and Greek university professors of archeology and guides.

Strategic aims:
   Ö  Organising Greek language and literature courses as well as cooking, wine, local handicraft and embroidery courses.
       Ö     Creating cultural participation, exchanging experiences, setting up new cultural, activities, participating in theatrical performances.
       Ö     Participating in scientific research schemes in archaeological sites as well as in museums.
       Ö     Defining and planning historical and cultural routes or paths.
       Ö     Compiling cultural projects (i.e., concerning students from foreign universities or/and colleges; excursions of foreign schools) and providing cultural experiences (i.e. projects of training on and acquainting with cultural heritage, developing co-operation networks).   
       Ö     Protecting, utilising, reforming, restoring and intervening in monuments and sightseeing spots, archaeological sites etc.
       Ö     Renovating remarkable public buildings and creating 'museum-styled' premises.

g)    Spas
Greece possesses spa towns of some note and the relevant facilities have existed for a number of years. It has been observed that, in recent years, the number of tourists willing to incur expenditure on account of their wellbeing, as well as healthy and natural foodstuffs, has steadily increased.

Strategic aims:
   Ö     Creating special facilities (balneotherapy; thalassotherapy, mud-bath therapy, spas), especially, there where thermal spas exist.  
       Ö     Renovating and expanding already existing thermal spas.
 Ö   Providing upgraded services, specialised medical personnel and staff supporting thermal spas.


h)   Marine tourism
Modern forms of marine tourism include:

Cruises, that have already developed over a number of years in Greece and spread to journeys to foreign ports, given that Greek cruise boats make up 1/3rd of the world fleet of such vessels.

Yachting, the development of which strengthens parallel activities in the economy, such as shipyards.
Marinas, an area in which Greece is lagging behind other Mediterranean countries, as well as Turkey, that essentially exploits the same sea areas, in terms of the variety and quality of facilities.
Sea and Under-water Activities The Greek under-water scene, with its wealth of archaeological resources represents a pole of attraction to both Greek and foreign divers, whether they are scientists or sightseers. It should be pointed out that because of the need to protect our submerged antiquities and marine life, the use of aqua lungs is permitted only in certain specified areas. Under-water fishing with spear guns is allowed everywhere, provided that fishermen are not equipped with aqua-lungs.

Strategic aims:
   Ö     Introducing activities promoting sea tourism.
       Ö     Reinforcing the organisation of daily sea excursions, cruises, sightseeing by private and chartered vessels and regattas.
       Ö     Increasing fishing shelters.
       Ö     Organising sea sports.
       Ö     Offering facilities and services in marinas and providing quality facilities and services at competitive prices.
       Ö     Reinforcing coastal connections.
Ö           Constructing enhancement projects at the already existing harbours.


i)     Nudism
As part of the campaign to promote and develop special forms of tourism, a law was passed authorizing nudism in organized nudist centers. This law provides for both the founding of new nudist centers and the transformation of exist­ing tourist units into such centers.


j) Tourism for the handicapped and third age
Another type of specialized tourism that Greece is seeking to promote is directed at the handicapped and retired people. Its target is to enhance the establishments that are already equipped to serve handicapped tourists and pensioners as well as to create programmes aimed at this special clientele.

A characteristic element of Greek regions is the harmony between the natural scenery and the region’s spiritual and cultural tradition. One of the main factors behind the deterioration and threatened loss of this harmonious environment, natural and spiritual, is the dominant form of mass tourism.
To deal with this problem, it is important:
-         To develop alternative tourist models, compatible with the social, cultural and environmental character of the Mediterranean area.
-         To situate tourist movement within a wider strategy of continuing development of the rural and island areas.








2.3 Marketing analysis


This chapter discusses a marketing analysis and planning, that focuses mainly on the characteristics of the Greek islands and Greek coastal line, using the information, data and analysis of the previous chapters.



2.3.1. TOURISM MARKETING CONCEPT, ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES



If we examine specialized bibliography we find a series of arguments, views, directions regarding Tourism Marketing, destination marketing, rational strategy Marketing development and setting aims.
Kotler (1993) discusses Tourism Marketing, and in particular about product positioning, states that positioning of a tourism product is the method used to define it in the minds of potential consumers, based on important for them product characteristics and in relation to competitive products. He goes on, saying that consumers are overtaken with information about products and services and in their need to simplify the decision process they «position» the products and services in their minds.
Rational application of marketing principles does not allow products to be left to chance. «A tourism destination can be seen as one of tourist industry’s products. It is a uniquely complex product, composed of, among other factors, area climate, infrastructure and superstructure, services, natural and cultural characteristics as well as image». (Telisman – Kosuta, 1989).
Mayo (1973), who studied the image of destination areas in conjunction to traveller behaviour, argued that the image of an area – destination is principle factor when we choose a destination. Furthermore, he noted that what matters more is not the truth in the image presented but what hold true in the mind of the customer – tourist.
Products have personal and social significance for the buyer. Thus, under the image each potential tourist has for a country underlies a bundle of motives. It could be said that the relation and the sum of these motives define the central motivation matching the image held by each destination, forming a particular behaviour by the potential tourist and urging the buying decision.
Given the fact that each potential tourist could represent a unique market segment – target, due to various needs, motives and wants (Kotler, 1993) we understand the segmentation of the market based on criteria beyond those used for the traditional approach (such as age, gender, geographical origin etc).
In regards to setting objectives, these are usually a combination of what we want and what choices we seem to have after analyzing the external and internal environment.
Outside the specification of some economic objectives we should not neglect Marketing objectives such as the selection of particular target - markets, product improvement, market expansion, creation of new products, buyer – tourist information etc.  In regards to strategic choices, these should vary in relation to the objectives set by each destination or tourism enterprise.
Despite all this, the basic elements making up the Marketing strategy are defining the area of action, defining the source works, target groups, product policy, pricing, distribution and promotion.
In the next section it will be attempted to define objectives and strategy directions for the island and coastal regions of Greece.





2.3.2 SWOT ANALYSIS OF GREEK TOURISM

The knowledge of the tourism product, organized exploitation, market identification, recognition of customer – tourist needs and characteristics, forecasting’s are the basic elements of a complex procedure of Tourism Marketing.
Marketing is the means used to find the methods needed to attract and approach the consumer – tourist and the tourism market in general. It is also the means allowing a public or private organization to gain control and gather information on the sum of factors of the product being offered as well as its productiveness. 
The characterists and the evolution of the tourism sector require methodical approach on Marketing concept, which could be defined as «the systematic and coordinated adaptation of tourism industry policies as well as individual and government tourism policy in local, regional and international levels, providing maximum satisfaction to the needs of specific groups defined as consumers, gaining a profit at the same time» (Krippendorf, 1972).
Among all the definitions of Marketing this one has been chosen intentionally, because it mentions all the necessary combinations of actions of all parties.
Greece, being a, primarily, tourism destination should know all of the above, take advantage in the best possible manner (both on part of economic performance as well in the protection of its environment) of it’s tourism possibilities and recognize the necessity in applying these principles.
Tourism activities in Greece concern mainly the exploitation of the island and costal regions and to a lesser extent the mainland. Both of these regions present a series of characteristics, problems and possibilities.
Mentioning Marketing above and having already defined my thinking process I shall continue using its context and structure to establish firstly a framework for any advantages – disadvantages of the regions under examination as well as present any possible opportunities for development or related threats. After this, and always within a marketing oriented perspective I shall define the objectives and the strategic directions using rationale based on positioning, image, target - markets, competitive advantages, benefit segmentation etc.
In this way I shall attempt to prove the possibilities offered by comprehensive Marketing approach, not restricted in strategic planning but also in regards to classification, grouping and thus evaluation of data of the previous chapters.

Basically, the above mentioned discussion framework, of strengths – weaknesses, opportunities – threats is S.W.O.T. analysis, one of the main elements of Marketing Strategic Planning.
Each country involved in tourism owes to examine matters concerning S.W.O.T. analysis in order to have a continued appreciation of its internal and external environment and use it as base for its tourism development activities.
Greece, a tourism destination confronting intense competition along with the emerge of new technologies needs to apply the Marketing concept thoroughly, integrating at first approaches such a S.W.O.T. analysis.
Greece is aware of the fact that tourism market has began to look for alternative forms of tourism while at the same time it finds that it’s islands, mountain and special regions are lacking in development.
Accordingly, we realize how urgent is the need for a special tool to help find directions, not partially, but methodically and comprehensively.
At first I am going to perform a SWOT analysis for the islands and coastal areas of Greece.


SWOT analysis

Strengths - Advantages
There are more than 2000 islands in the Aegean Sea and 14000 Km of coastal areas, attracting a substantial number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays, representing the principal tourist revenue resource for the country. They have a series of advantages and positive characteristics, such as natural beauty, landscape, natural environment, climate, cultural heritage, traditions, history – from antiquity to this day – monuments, important archaeological sites, friendly inhabitants, developed commercial activities, repeat visitors, development of interpersonal relations between entrepreneurs and tourists, low cost of living, traditional cuisine, enjoyment of the famous Mediterranean diet and a unique advantage, the islands are so closed together that they can be used as «stepping stones» for island hopping. 

Weaknesses - Disadvantages
Despite the above mentioned advantages, the particular island and coastal regions presents a series of weaknesses - disadvantages concerning mainly the lack of marketing rationale (from both private and public sectors), such as identification of target - markets, strategy planning, research activities and use of collected information,  advertising and promotion. There are also problems concerning organization, operation and management of tourism businesses, especially those managed by families and those of small and medium size.
   All the above contribute to the dependency of foreign tour operators and their distribution channels, a problem which already has been extensively discussed in the Greek tourism market.

Opportunities.
Knowledge and understanding of the external environment is equally important with knowledge and understanding of the internal environment because it shapes the frame into which important decisions are taken, and which belong to the Marketing area and related activities.
The emerging opportunities in the island and coastal region concern mainly the growing tourism demand, as it is clearly seen in related statistics, the EU supported human resource vocational training programs, the Regional Development programs, low cost of living and transportation and the common European currency the euro.

Threats.
On the other hand, there are facts that could be seen as threats, such as uncontrolled development, oversupply and lack of needed infrastructure in some of the island and coastal regions which developed rapidly. The result of oversupply is intense competition (not restricted on the island but also among the islands), reduction of prices and the arrival of mass tourism with the known consequences on the image of the destination.
Another negative fact, for the image and tourism development of the region, is environmental pollution, whether as a result of lacking infrastructure or due to indifference. Furthermore, the fires of the last few years and the recent shipwrecks (Paros, Santorini), with all it’s negative publicity, play a frustrating role in proper tourism development.


2.3.3 OBJECTIVES AND ELEMENTS OF A MARKETING STRATEGY FOR THE AEGEAN ISLANDS and COASTAL LINE AREAS


1.   Developing a differentiated product and improving the current one.
A basic, initial objective for the island and coastal regions is to develop a differentiated product and to improve the current one. Based on the SWOT analysis and the above argument, marketing related strategic directions that could lead to achieving this objective is positioning of the product.
Marketing allows us to develop various positioning strategies. In this particular case the best positioning could be based on competitive advantage. Using the data of the previous chapters and the SWOT analysis and at the same time realizing it’s usefulness, the competitive advantage is the fact that we are dealing with the largest island group in the Mediterranean, with unique natural beauty combined with historical and cultural heritage.

Going a step further on the same argument, I would suggest the combination of the above mentioned competitive advantages to achieve a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for the region. I believe that the existence of such an extensive group of islands and coast with the addition of such invaluable cultural heritage and historical background could work as the foundation for the creation of a differentiated tourism product with historical – cultural routes and tourism services taking advantage of recorded historical – cultural routes and roads. The existence of recorded historical inroads could become the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for groups of islands or even for individual areas.
Application of this rationale makes us realize immediately the effect it is going to have on the image of the region, to more positive directions.
As already mentioned earlier, there is a problem with the existing infrastructure. Improvement of the infrastructure is a necessary requirement, to support development of a differentiated product, positioning, Unique Selling Proposition and image, as well as a necessity for the improvement of the currently offered product.
In regards to the current supplied product, it has been mentioned earlier that it is based mainly on the mass tourism model. It is the model being extensively used in many Aegean islands, either because of balancing problems in the supply and demand or because there is no other developmental planning on the part of the public and / or the private sector. Despite all this, it is the main source of revenue for these areas.
Any proposal made should take into account the existing structure and it should not try to ignore this fact. On the contrary, it should make every effort to reduce negative environmental and social impact and propose «complementary» models (Vitouladiti, 2000)..

2. Identifying target - markets.
Based on the prior objective and the proposed strategies, the need to attract new target - markets, as well as the need to improve the existing ones becomes immediately evident.
In this case, the attraction of new target - markets must be based on Marketing methods, in regards to examining the factors concerning motives, wants, consumer behaviors as well as steps in the buying process and choice criteria for the final destination – product.

3. Pricing, distribution channels, promotion.
Developing a differentiated product, improving the existing infrastructures, attracting new target - markets and improving the existing ones, not only contributes in defining the next objectives (pricing, profit, distribution channels matters, development of effective promotion) but it also points out strategic directions for their implementation.
Strategic directions to achieve these objectives can focus on attracting some tour operators, those who deal with particular segments of the market and the upper scale ones (better quality), helping not only in attracting a new market but also breaking somewhat away from the dominate distribution channels of the mass tourism tour operators.
Improvement of infrastructures and development of the existing product shall contribute significantly in renegotiations with the existing distribution channels, demanding better prices, which, when seen together with the attraction of new markets, can lead to increased profits.
Also, the use of current technologies, i.e. Internet, can aid in redefining the distribution channels since we will be able to approach the potential client directly. They could also help in matters concerning promotion of the product, presenting directly to the interested parties all the important characteristics, points of attraction, historical monuments and basic information relating with the proposed product, such as information about prices, accommodation facilities, accessibility etc.
It should be noted though that, whether we use traditional promotional methods or new technologies, the strategy used to achieve the objectives must be directed towards sending out messages which transmit information about the efforts being made to differentiate, improve and change the image of the proposed product.





3.0  CASE STUDY


INTRODUCTION
In the following pages I am going to present a case study concerning the Aegean island of Chios, in relation to the arguments made alongside this study.

This particular case study is suitable for the presentation and examination of the current  situations as well as development proposals and exploitation of the island from a tourist company or a tourist developer point of view.


DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND

The island of Chios covers an area of 342 square kilometers and has a population of about 60,000,  a density of 62.35 inhabitants per square kilometers. (The corresponding figure for the country as a whole is 66.5 inhabitants per kilometer).     Administratively, Chios is composed of a single province (province of 'Nomos' of Chios) and includes one city, three towns, fifty five villages and 101 hamlets.
Lush green “fragrant” Chios, also known as the mastic island, has much to offer to the traveller. It is probably Homer’s birthplace, and it has an immense naval and intellectual tradition.
 It was inhabited since the Neolithic era, has known successive conquerors, was devastated by pirate attacks during the Byzantine years, and after a short period of Venetian domination it came under the Genoan commercial company Maona (for two centuries). It paid a high price during the Greek Revolution, with the population massacre (1822), despite the fact that the Chios didn’t participate initially in the uprising, since they enjoyed special privileges given to them by the Turks due to the mastic production.
 In the south of Chios the mastic lentisk has been cultivated for centuries; the tiny tree that after being “pinched” by the locals, responds with “tears”, offering its bounty of precious resin. Mastic, which is an exclusive Chios product, has been cultivated on the island since the 1st century A.D. and tradition has it that the lentisk started tearing down when the Saint Isidor was tortured and martyred here by the Romans (250 A.D.). All the works in regards to the tree, the resin collection and its clearing down, are manual labour.


PRESENT TOURIST SITUATION OF CHIOS

Tourism in Chios is not developed in comparison with the rest of the Eastern Aegean Islands.      Chios occupies only 6% of the total number of tourists with Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos, etc.), 76%, Samos 10 % and Lesbos 8%.
It has been felt that tourism can play an important role in the economic life of the island, after the decline of the shipping industry. Chios has not developed tourism, mainly because of the two following reasons:    firstly, one third of the male population used to work on the ships and secondly, the ship owners wanted the island much to them­selves and the inhabitants to be employed largely by them.
From the previous analysis we can see that tourism developed very rapidly over the last few years in Greece and that in some places, the sequences of that development had negative effects, changing the social, economic and environmental balances. Subsequently, the unique character of places was lost and it became similar to other tourist resorts around the world.
So, in a sense, Chios is lucky because has the opportunity to study different tourist development projects and forms of Tourism and can exploit the experiences of the other places to its benefit.  

S.W.O.T Analysis

We have so far presented the basic characteristics of Chios. Those characteristics allow us now to proceed with the island's SWOT analysis:

STREGTHS
·         The culture and history of Chios - important archaeological sites and monuments
·         The living traditions of the island
·         The natural environment of Chios – clean seas
·         Tourism in Chios has most explicit characteristics of alternative forms of tourism.
·         Large number of commercial shops and supermarket.
·         Short distance to Turkey (1/2 hour to Chesme and 11/2 hour to the third biggest city Ismir)
·         Quality agricultural produce
·         Dynamic local industrial companies of rural agricultural products (citrus fruits, mastic gum, herds and spices e.t.c).
·         The long naval tradition.
·         Technical support from the University of the Aegean (Business School) which is based in Chios.

 

WEAKNESSES

·         Lack of Tourist culture, a development and marketing strategy
·         Small tourist period (4 to 5 months)
·         Low level of tourist modernization.
·         Big number of relatively small tourist enterprises.
·         Lack of specialised employment.
·         Absence of tourist investments
·         Control of the local tourist market from big tour operators.
·         Relatively small seaport and airport

OPPORTUNITIES

·         Low tourist activity could be the island’s biggest opportunity for development. Evidence from places with high tourist appeal like Rhodes, Corfu, Paros, Kos, etc., already show environmental and cultural problems, overcrowding, pollution, e.t.c, sometimes irreversible.
·         Sustainable tourism development that will aim to the continuous, parallel and balanced development of all the sectors of the local economy and respect the cultural characteristics of the area to the benefit of both locals and tourists.
·         Development of alternative forms of Tourism such as agrotourism – local tourism, cultural tourism, ecological tourism, sea and water tourism e.t.c.
·         The stimulation of local crafts and other local popular art which would have a larger clientele and more means of support
·         Encourage investments
·         Incentives to convert traditional building into tourist accommodation.
·         Joint tourist projects with  neighbour Turkey

THREATS

·         Uncontrolled Tourist development and growth.
·         Unilateral growth of tourism.
·         Ccultural and social alteration
·         Damage of the environment
·         Intensity of competition. from countries such as Turkey which is expected to achieve good performance in the coming years
·         The uncertainty about the future developments of the world financial and economic crisis, makes predictions on the Greek travel and tourism industry during the forecast period particularly difficult.



CONCLUSION
An important step in strategic planning is to assess concerns and needs of various sectors of the local community (different age groups, the business sector, the educational and social services sector, and so on) and to assess all the elements related to tourism and other options for economic development and environmental conservation in Chios



4.0  CONCLUSION

Tourism in Greece goes through a difficult period. The uncertainty about the future developments of the world financial and economic crisis and the country's fragile economy make predictions on the Greek travel and tourism industry particularly difficult. It is true though, that the Greek tourism industry has proven to be a very resilient economic activity during past difficult periods.

One of the ways to face this crisis, is to look for a new identity in tourism, which will go beyond the limits of 'sea and sun' and adopt other compementary and new forms of tourism such as the alternative forms of tourism. Obviously any destination aiming to attract alternative forms of tourism should have certain characteristics. Several types of alternative tourism as agrotourism, cultural tourism, ecological tourism,  are the result of the Greek and European policies for regional development and the efforts to support of rural incomes,  but also manifest the expressed need of an increasing percentage of tourists who now turn towards quality, nature, peace and seek a different style life provided in areas such the Greek island or Greek rural areas, by abandoning the predominate model of mass tourism. It is probable that the model of the mass tourism has not a lot to offer any more and in this way the turn to another sustainable model of tourism development seriously to think about.

Marketing is the means used to find the methods needed to attract and approach the tourist consumer. It is also the means allowing a public or private organization to gain control and gather information of the product being offered as well as it’s productiveness. 

Tourism activities in Greece concern mainly the exploitation of the island regions and to a lesser extent the mainland.  Greek islands have a series of characteristics, problems and possibilities. The competitive advantage is the fact that we are dealing with the largest island group in the Mediterranean, with unique natural beauty combined with historical and cultural heritage.








5.0 REFERENSES - BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS


John Beech and Simon Chadwick, (2006). The business of tourism management. Harlow : Financial Times Prentice Hall

John Tribe.(1997). Corporate strategy for tourism. London : International Thomson Business Press

Stelios Varvaressos, (1998). Tourism. The case of Greece. Athens, Greece : Propobos

G. IgoumenakisGeorge N. Igoumenakis 2004. Tourist Marketing, general principles, INTERBOOKS

Panagiotis Komilis, Nikos Vagionis, 1999, Tourism Planning, evolution, appraisal and application, Propobos)

Gerasimos Zaharatos, 2000, PACKAGE TOUR, Propobos)

Nikos G. Igoumenakis 1996, Tourist Marketing, ISBN: 960-390-006-0, INTERBOOKS

Thomas Sitaras, Christos Tzenos, 2007, Introduction to the theory of Tourism, ISBN: 978-960-390-191-4, INTERBOOKS

Tsartas P., (1999) Sustainable Development and Tourism: Considerations and Suggestions for a Different Type of Tourism Development in the K. Laskaris, Sustainable Development – Theoretical Approaches of an Important Meaning, Athens: Papasotiriou


Kotler, Philip, 2010, Marketing for hospitality and tourism, London : Pearson Prentice Hall

Kotler, Philip, 1993, Marketing places : attracting investment, industry, and tourism to cities, states, and nations, New York : Toronto : New York ; Oxford : Free Press ; Maxwell Macmillan Canada ; Maxwell Macmillan International

Krippendorf, Jost, 1987, The holiday makers : understanding the impact of leisure and travel, London : Heinemann.
Morrison, Alastair M, 2010, Hospitality and travel marketing, Clifton Park, N.Y. : London : Delmar Learning ; Cengage Learning [distributor]

Morrison, Alastair M, 2010, Hospitality and travel marketing, Clifton Park, N.Y. : London : Delmar Learning ; Cengage Learning [distributor]

JOURNALS


1. Title International journal of tourism research.
Bib Id 218278
ISSN 1099-2340
Location 911.35

2. Title Journal of sustainable tourism.
Bib Id 215986
ISSN 0966-9582
Location 911.35

3.Title
Tourism management.
Bib Id 216121
ISSN 0261-5177
Location 911.35

Stebbins, R. (1997), Internternational Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 6, No.1, pp.17-28. Statistical Bureau (2001).Greece.

 




CONFERENCE PAPPERS
ADOPTION OF THE SENSITIVE REGION AIMING TO ITS SUSTAINABLE  TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, Adamos M. Adamou, Alexandros I. Argirokastritis, UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN International Scientific Conference on “Tourism on Islands and Specific Destinations” December 14 – 16, 2000, Chios Island, Greece

TOURIST-DEPENDENT SYMI: SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR A SMALL ISLAND? Professor Michael Carley , Centre for Environment and Human Settlements Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Dimitris Antonoglou, Postgraduate student in “Tourism Planning, Policies and Management” University of the Aegean. UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN International Scientific Conference “Tourism on Islands and Specific Destinations” December 14 – 16, 2000, Chios Island, Greece

TOURISM ON ISLANDS AND SPECIFIC DESTINATIONS,  Ourania Vitouladiti, UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN International Scientific Conference on “Tourism on Islands and Specific Destinations” December 14 – 16, 2000, Chios Island, Greece

 

 

 

 

 

 




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