Ski – resort and regional development: profile of visitors ... - E-Journal

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Garyfallos Arabatzis, Serafeim Polyzos and Stavros Tsiantikoudis
tree clumps) which on their own are of minor importance, but have always been near the
monument». A well-conserved total is much more attractive than isolated monuments and
it offers an exceptional and interesting view.
• The active participation of the host community in the whole tourism development should
be aimed at and provision should be made, so that the cultural values and the particularities
of the local populations are strengthened in such a way that they do not become vulnerable
to the inevitable cultural invasion that will result from the increasing number of visitors.
The local traditions and customs, the folklore events and the types of local handicraft form
the most sensitive elements of the local cultural environment. Their potential alteration
stems at firstly from the economic development that goes with the tourism and not from
the visitors themselves. These local cultural characters can be conserved when tourism
in the area does not exceed a concrete and relatively low level above which they become
usually an artificial spectacle for the visitors. In such cases folklore products are replaced
by cheap imported substitutes. A long-range plan for the tourism development of the area
must foresee motives for the encouragement of local handicraft as well as folklore and
cultural events aiming at their conservation and the improvement of the tourist picture of
the area.
• The institutions of exploitation of tourism infrastructures must offer part of their income
to the protection and conservation of the local environment and encourage the local
populations to turn to a development which is friendly to the environment (e.g. biological
agriculture, extensional and sustainable livestock-farming etc).
An issue that must also be taken into consideration during planning is the demand of building
a second residence in the area. The cover of needs of seasonal residences must be included
in the rural planning.
Finally, it must be mentioned that for the protection of the biodiversity index of the study area
and particularly the big mammals and the birds of pray, it is essential to take measures that
will prevent the fragmentation of ecotypes and will deter from the access to the sensitive
areas. This means that the planning and tracing of new roads in the forest or provincial network
will have to by-pass the sensitive ecotypes, but in cases where the tracing of such roads is
absolutely necessary (e.g. forest network roads or cattle paths) the access must be restricted,
so that they are used only for the above purpose.
In conclusion: (a) More than 15 years of tourism activity have already passed and it occupies
big part of the productive potential of the prefecture, either as directly or as indirectly involved.
(b) Rich and significant natural resources, remarkable cultural heritage and rich diversity of
natural environment are exist. (c) Although the agricultural sector plays a major role in the
area, as a basic productive activity, this domain is not identified exclusively with the agricultural
activities, but is a place of multiple productive activities (tourism, seasonal residence, recreation,
Tourism Today - Fall 2007 - Full Paper