"It's really quite simple," said Nikos Roukounakis, who runs the popular Avli Meze House in Hersonissos, commenting on the current state of tourism in the area. "If everyone here, residents and business owners, just made three friends each season, we would have three million more visitors every year."

Nikos explained that good beaches and nice hotels can be found everywhere throughout Europe – it's the building of relationships with visitors that will bring them back.

"I'm not talking about the superficial welcome-my-friend type of attitude that many shop keepers employ and is so transparent that most visitors consider it a joke," he said. "You must treat visitors with sincerity and respect, just as you would treat your next door neighbour. From there, real relationships develop, and people will always try to come back to visit 'my friend on Crete'."

And, when it comes to tourism – and making friends – Nikos knows what he's talking about.  Born and raised in Iraklion, he started working in Hersonissos in 1987 as a mere boy of 15.

"I worked as a waiter, bar man and did other jobs, too, around clubs and tavernas," he said. "I knew one day I would have my own place and this was great on-the-job training. And, of course, I made some wonderful friends along the way."

Also along the way, Nikos met Katerina, a native of Norway, and they were married in 2000, after a five-year courtship. They have two children, Ioanna, 5½ and Angelos, 4½.

In 1995, at about the same time he met Katerina, at the age of 23, Nikos opened a snack bar called Tropical near the Hersonissos beach.

"It was a good spot and it worked well for 14 years," he said, "but I knew I wanted more – something more traditional, something for all year. I kept looking for just the right spot."

Nikos' search ended in 2005 when an old-style building at number 11 G. Petraki Street became available."

As soon as I saw it I felt that the ambiance of the place was perfect," he recalled. "And, with the renovations I had in mind, I knew this would be the taverna I always wanted."

From the day it opened, Avli, with its stone fireplace and old Cretan-style wood furnishings and decorations, was a beacon for both visitors and locals looking for a comfortable taverna with a warm atmosphere to enjoy fine traditional food, as well as some new variations of old style recipes.

"My chef, Yiannis, has been cooking all different styles of Greek food for over 33 years," Nikos said. "With his experience and mine, we were able to pool our accumulated knowledge and come up with a very special menu consisting of between 70 to 80 meze plates and grilled meats. The meze dishes, of course, keep changing, depending on available fresh vegetables and the fresh fish catch of the day. And, we're always trying out some new ideas."

Avli is open everyday throughout the year, except for short end-of-season, well-deserved holiday. In the winter, the inside tables, centered on around the fireplace, can accommodate 70 diners. There's an additional seating for 40 more guests on the outside deck.

Whether it be summer or winter, one thing is certain: the affable and charming Nikos will be on hand to greet new friends, and welcome back the ones he has made over the years.