As local tourism seems to be off to its most dismal season due to the world's economic situation, bringing with it a jump in unemployment, government officials at all levels – from Athens to the local townships – are promoting "green" tourism as the future of the industry.

PASOK president Yiorgos Papandreou, who has been outspoken about the danger signs visible throughout the Greek tourism industry, recently proposed "a multifaceted tourism strategy with its axis being the promotion of Green Tourism with emphasis on the quality with particular identity and alternative forms of tourism."

Meanwhile, Iraklion MP Vasilis Kegeroglou recently outlined his own proposal for the green development of Crete.

"Green development can open new fields of action and new markets for the creative businessmen who undertake initiatives, combining the undertaking of a business risk with the protection and upgrading of the environment," he declared.

"Crete must be a pioneer in this effort because of the island's geographic place and natural wealth." 

Spiros Danellis, who served as Hersonissos' mayor for the past six years, said the environmental behaviour of tourism enterprises plays a critical role in their growth.

"This is due to mainly two reasons," he explained. "Firstly, these enterprises should conduct business and develop in an environment of green economy, and, secondly, by the nature of the services they provide they ought to adopt actions friendly to the environment. The growth of green tourism in an environment of green economy creates new places of work by promoting new technologies for managing this environment."

Mr. Danellis said all regions in the Hersonissos Township are potential recipients of green tourism.

"Perhaps the inner villages are less qualified, because the structures there are just now being developed, but this is a unique chance for these developments to include the factors that distinguish a green economy," he said. "Our country is in dire need of green tourism in order to ensure its viability!"

Gouves Mayor Yiorgos Nikolakakis believes that green tourism presupposes re-structuring, from investments to a change of mentality concerning the provided services.

"It could be tourism on a smaller, more balanced scale that divides the profits from the tourism economy to more recipients, and shapes the conditions for a sustainable growth," he stated. "Greece is a preferential place for the development of such forms of tourism, and it could help our Municipality if we were in complete control of all actions and tools needed to sculpt this new tourism policy."

"At the present moment only the hinterlands of our Demos could constitute the base for the growth of such forms of green and social tourism. We do work towards this direction and we hope that this will create, with the passing of time, some viable and qualitative examples that will influence, little by little, the remainder of the region, too."

The mayor of Malia Kostas Lagoudakis wouldn't comment on green tourism. A section of the town in Malia is notorious for its non-green, pub-crawl type of attractions. The mayor's office indicated it was "too busy" getting ready for the season to reply.  

While green tourism is the "hot" topic of the day, there are many local people who have been promoting the concept for years, and are unanimous in their belief that Crete's future must be coloured green.

Manolis Fragakis, together with his wife, Sabine, for years now have been conducting horse-riding tours throughout Crete from their Odysseia Stables in Avdou, and more recently have added a rustic mountainside hotel, the Velani.

"We do six-day trail rides on the mountain to Lasithi Plateau, and south to Keratokambos, plus panorama rides which are mostly daily trips," Manolis said. "We can see continually increasing interest in these types of Cretan holidays."

Yiorgos Halabalakis of Analipsi has been conducting nature walks, mostly along the Aposelemi River and Gorge, for several years.

"This is the best way for visitors, even locals, to enjoy this fantastic island," he proclaimed. "We have so much more to offer people – our natural resources are almost unlimited."

Barbara Troester, a native of Germany who has been a resident of Gouves for ten years, has always been a nature lover and back-packer.

"I know from my own experience that there is no better way to see and enjoy a country, than communicating with its natural environment," she said. "So, when I came here I looked for work in that field, not with the big tourist hotels."

Barbara began with guiding bicycle tours through various locations, including up on Idi Mountain, then turned her talents to Samaria Gorge.

"I guide tours through the gorge three times a week, and at last count I made the walk 270 times," she said proudly. "This is the way to see Crete . . . to come in contact with it, and smell the island. The people that spend their holiday in an all-inclusive hotel don't know what they're missing."

Mrs. Eva Petraki, owner of a Malia tourism office, said she endorses green tourism and expects to see more of it in the future

"Ecological tourism is excellent if indeed it does happen. Up until now it is not widely known, but it will be something new for our country and it will certainly attract a large percentage of visitors who are ecology friendly. The question remains if it will be supported by the government so that it really evolves."

A Kato Gouves travel agent loves the idea of green tourism, but is a bit sceptical.

"I consider green tourism an excellent idea, if in fact it happens . . . but I'm afraid it won't," offered Renata Anagnostaki of Luna Travel. "Foreigners are known for their ecological sensitivities and Greece as a country is ideal for this type of alternative tourism, but Greeks as a people are hesitant about new beginnings." 

The picture presented by tourism for years but especially today, in Crete and Greece in general, has led those involved to new reflections and in search of new forms of alternative or "green", as they want to call it, tourism. The tourism downslide of today of course has to do with the wider world crisis, but it's certainly related and to the entire tourism structure where an anarchistic growth has prevailed for many years now. A careful and sensitive approach towards nature and the communities is warranted now regarding the direction taken by today's tourism.

Niki Giamalaki of Anopoli believes our villages are inevitably the next objective of all those who deal with tourism.

"Green tourism is a shot of oxygen to the villages, but it must be given in a responsible manner so as not to repeat the same mistakes we made with our seafront areas," she said. "Only the strictest rules, combined with the decisive intervention by local societies, could promote a new tourism model, respecting the person and the environment first and not money and promiscuity."

And, what do the major tour agencies think of the future of green tourism?

Well, if you find out let us know. Inquiries made to several companies, including TUI, were ignored.

First we called the TUI office in Iraklion, but were told we must speak to the main office of TUI Hellas in Athens, and were given the name of the marketing director. However, several phone calls to her, and an email outlining our questions, wait unanswered. But a local tour rep for one of the giant firms, speaking under the condition on anonymity, said "the big companies are only interested in the all-inclusive hotels, where they can control the cash flow from all activities."

Apparently, when it comes to promoting green tourism, some big companies are red-faced with embarrassment.