ORGANISATION ON REGULATORY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF ATHENS Strategic Planning for Tourism in Athens - Attica 2021 Eleni Iliopoulou Director of Organisation of Athens
A. General Tourism's contribution to GDP has been steadily over 15% and during certain periods over 18%. It generates job positions in a broad range of activities, in different levels of education and qualification and primarily for young people. One (1) out of five (5) residents in Greece is directly or indirectly employed in the tourist sector.
B. Current Situation in Attica Attica's advantages are as follows: Exceptional cultural heritage Climate Length and quality of beaches The existence of beautiful islands close by, that can provide daily tourism for Athens-based tourists. The same applies for adjacent destinations, such as Corinth, Epidavros, Delfi, etc. Natural environment, diversity and intense alteration in the form and the type of resources, density and variety of areas with special natural beauty in the suburban and rural area, as well as the mountains surrounding the capital Remarkable and modem cultural activity
Poor tourism image that is due to: The lack of supporting infrastructures and the lack of utilisation of existing infrastructures (Olympic games facilities), resulting in seasonality Quality issues of the urban and natural environment The average quality of services rendered and infrastructures Additionally Intense international competition from neighbouring Mediterranean countries Decrease in financial momentum, as a result of financial event -national and international- and especially due to the decrease in momentum in the terrestrial section of the periphery Even bigger problems with large units in central areas, due to their degradation, which is accompanied by low occupancy and change of unit use
Table 1. Number of tourist accommodation establishments and beds in Attica Number of tourist accommodation establishments Number of beds Hotels & similar accommodation Tourist campsites Total Hotels &similar accommodation Tourist campsites Total 690 10 700 61.882 2.630 64.512 Table 2. Utilisation of Capacity Year 2008 Existing Beds Days of Operation Possiblee Overnight Stays Effected Overnight Stays Surplus Capacity (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 62.125 327 20.314875 7.272.015 179,36% Table 3. Progress of average occupancy of hotels in Attica May 2008 May 2009 May 2010 Centre Outside centre Centre Outside centre Centre Outside centre Occupancy 79,2% 72,4% 72,2% 69,3% 59,0% 64,7% Prices ( ) 82,8 108,8 67,5 106,9 60,2 100,5
C. New Regulatory Plan for Athens 2020 1. Policy Goals and Directions Regain the glamour and boost the attraction of Athens-Attica Establish Athens-Attica's role as a 'gate-city' Viable tourism growth Improve competitiveness and enrich tourism product Differentiate the tourism product with the purpose of extending the tourism period Form a recognisable tourism identity
Incorporate other forms of tourism in the tourism cycle Upgrade the tourism product Organisation and development, based on comparative advantages and characteristics of the regional areas Organisation in operational correlation with adjacent regions Facilitate access to tourist destinations Promotion and management by using innovative methods
2. Tourism Infrastructure Promote the development of the following forms of tourism: Cultural, sightseeing conferences, exhibitions, business marine, cruises nature tourism, vacation, sport-training tourism, air sports, mega events tourism agritourism, culinary, healing and therapeutic tourism, relaxation and pleasure tourism, pilgrimage tourism
3. Measures - Programmes in Attica to Support Tourism Interventions on quality of life and support of tourism Reconstruction of entire building blocks and by giving priority to historical centres Unification of archaeological sites
Conversion of Olgas Avenue into a pedestrian walkway
Conversion Panepistimiou Avenue into a pedestrian walkway and Expansion tram lines
Connection of the sea front with the residential area and delivery to the residents and visitors. Focus on tourism-culture axes Provide the city with access to the sea 1. Elefsina 2. Piraeus 3. Faliro 4. Elliniko 5. Lavrio 6. Sounio 7. Vravrona 8. Marathonas - Nea Makri 9. Islands (Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina, Angistri)
Utilisation of Olympic Games Facilities Reconstruction of Faliron bay - Ecology Park, Convention centre and cultural realm with Opera house and National Library Olympic Pole of Elliniko
Protection, publicity and combined promotion of the resources of the entire suburban area suburban tourism
Develop of a Metropolitan Park Network Goudi Metropolitan Park 'Pirgos Vassilissis' Metropolitan Park
Development of cruise infrastructures at the Port of Piraeus, Lavrio, Rafina
Connection of urban tourism, as well as of major cities with tourist attractions in the rural area with track based transportation (tram, metro, urban rail 'Proastiakos') New metro line and extension of tram line Cooperation with low-cost airline companies that will connect Athens with foreign cities through direct flights
General reconstruction of access and means of transportation, improvement of traffic conditions and options for pedestrian and bicycle movement in city centre and Attica, in general Network of Cycle Tracks
Improve the appearance of public areas and buildings Improve city gateways (ports, national highways) Measures to improve sign posts
Implementation of Programmes on Cultural and Sight-seeing tourism Connection and promotion of cultural interest areas for cultural activities Establishment of cultural routes that connect archaeological sites and monuments Organisation and promotion of thematic routes Organisation of cultural daily excursions to Argosaronikos, Korinthia, Argolida, Viotia, Evia, Fokida Organisation events for the promotion of modern culture at its source, in cooperation with creators, and creation of a recognisable regional identity