Mykonos Mayor Konstantinos Koukas presented Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Tuesday with the findings of a study for the sustainable tourism development of the Greek island.

More specifically, the report indicates 15 key areas where actions must be taken towards sustainable development that will protect the environment and the island’s unique characteristics and reputation, and will ensure the effective management of tourist demand with the overall aim to attract higher quality tourists.
During the meeting, also attended by the municipality’s tourism department and the island’s hotelier association, Koukas highlighted the importance of securing funding for the projects and discussed necessary projects, including:

– the completion of an island spatial plan,
– infrastructure upgrades,
– integrated waste and water resources management,
– controls on cruise tourism,
– and addressing traffic.

“Our common goal is to implement a successful sustainable tourism development model on Mykonos, focused on the comparative advantages of the island,” said Kikilias.

“Mykonos is a very popular destination worldwide and is at the core of our strategic decision to make Greece a model of sustainable tourism development,” he added.

Koukas and Kikilias agreed to present the full agenda of projects as well as the priorities to island stakeholders during a special day event in the coming weeks.
The island’s mayor stressed that as a leading global tourist destination, Mykonos plays a significant part in maintaining Greece’s international image and also referred to the island’s contribution to national tourism revenues.

Koukas went on to add that that the time had come with the collaboration of the state to implement a “holistic sustainability plan for the island with actions and not words”.

“I am sure that with the help of the state, but also with the support of the local community, policies and actions will be encouraged to address issues that have existed for decades, upgrade existing infrastructure, protect the environment, and create a better quality of life for residents and visitors,” the island’s mayor said.