Alonissos Among the Top Places in the Globe for Ecotourism

The Greek island of Alonissos, a North Aegean isle north of Evia, has been named one particular of the Prime Places for Ecotourism.

ABTA Journal, the publication representing the UK’s biggest Vacation Association, launched its prime destinations for ecotourism recently in 2nd put is the Greek island of Alonissos. As ecotourism – or environmentally friendly tourism – has develop into increasingly vital to tourists, primarily since COVID-19, ABTA and the tourism sector as a complete, have begun to emphasis on the ensuing trends.

The well known hotel scheduling system Scheduling.com reported that 81% of travelers say they want to remain in sustainable lodging in the upcoming year – which is a noteworthy maximize from 62% in 2016, when Booking.com very first executed its sustainable travel exploration, and up 7% from 74% in 2020, just prior to the pandemic.

Alonissos: The First Place for Ecotourism

It is not stunning to anyone who has been looking at the eco-pleasant development of Alonissos above the a long time, that the island is a best vacationer attraction because of its purely natural splendor and preservation state of mind. In 1986, the Prefecture of Magnesia, to which the island belongs, sought to shield the indigenous Mediterranean monk seal with the signing of the initial resolution to that influence. By 1992, the region was officially declared a Countrywide Maritime Park, when professional and leisure fishing was banned.

As in significantly of Greece, though, what is to be preserved and viewed as purely natural, extends to its historical heritage and antiquities. In 2020, the island of Alonissos innovated when more by opening the world’s very first underwater museum, The Underwater Museum of Peristera. This underwater museum featured the shipwreck of Peristera from the 5^th Century BC and went on to get a European Award in the wintertime of the exact 12 months.

It is not shocking that ABTA Magazine pointed to equally the Natural Maritime Park and the Underwater Museum as two of the three explanations for which Alonissos was chosen as the variety two desired destination for ecotourism. The 3rd motive is the banning of plastic baggage from the island, which was enacted in 2015. The island also presents a plethora of climbing trails and other, much less invasive functions, which appeal to eco-welcoming travellers.

Society and Nature – Ecotourism in Alonissos

This exceptional combination of lifestyle and character usually means that Alonissos aligns with ecotourism dreams for one more explanation: as the Reserving.com sustainable tourism report concluded, vacationers price regard for the area local community, as virtually three quarters (73%) want to have authentic experiences that are representative of the community lifestyle when they journey, while 84% believe raising cultural understanding and preservation of cultural heritage is crucial.

“This fantastic difference rewards not only Alonissos but also the total of Greece,” mentioned the mayor of Alonissos, Petros Vafinis, who ongoing by indicating that in buy for this intercontinental recognition to be managed, extra municipalities will have to invest in the considerable enhancement of such tasks.

Topping the list of ecotourism places was Costa Rica, with its own purely natural parks and forest reserves and a substantial range of eco-pleasant lodging options. Other European, American and African destinations ended up also amongst the contenders for the greatest ecotourism locations in 2021.