Tourism Sustainability in the Island of Crete, Greece

Climate change consists of a severe environmental problem and the efforts for its mitigation are growing worldwide. There is a global consensus regarding the need for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere the decrease of fossil fuels use as well as the increase of renewable energies use. The impacts of tourism industry to climate change are not negligible and efforts for increasing its sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint should be accelerated. Island of Crete like other Mediterranean islands is a popular tourist destination hosting million of tourists every year. During the recent decades tourism industry has been grown rapidly in Crete contributing significantly in the creation of new jobs, incomes and prosperity. At the same time the island's ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable. If tourism exceeds their local carrying capacity, it will result in their environmental degradation making them less desirable and attractive for vacations. Therefore, improving sustainability of tourism industry in Crete is a prerequisite for its long term prosperity. Tourism industry currently contributes at approximately 50% of the island's regional domestic product and contributes positively in its prosperity. Island of Crete, apart from many natural and cultural attractions, has abundant renewable energy sources which could be used in various sectors in the local tourism industry reducing its carbon footprint. Therefore, improving the sustainability of the island's tourism industry is very important for all its stakeholders. The current study is consisted of two parts. The first part maps the current status of tourism sustainability in Crete while the second part is related with improving energy sustainability in Cretan hotels. It could be useful to all stakeholders in island's tourism industry including tourists, hotel owners, various enterprises in all tourism sectors as well as to public authorities and policy makers. It could be also useful to various stakeholders in other Mediterranean islands which are dominated by tourism and face similar problems, regarding environmental sustainability, like Crete.