Authors: Kostas Margaritis

Title: Exploring the development of alternative forms of tourism as a means to enrich the tourist offer of the Greek islands: Case Study of Naxos

Abstract

The document explores the properties of Naxos and its potential to exploit them as a tourist destination, in order to enrich the existing model, or create a new alternative one. The research regards the need for a different perspective on the philosophy of tourism development of Greek destinations, through mild forms of tourism that give value to the traveller, highlighting the quality attributes of the island.

Naxos, as a growing destination, can be a field of research, on one hand because it features characteristics common with the rest of the Aegean islands, and on the other hand because it has particularities that need to be investigated and analyzed. The development of alternative forms of tourism is an important incentive for tourists who wish to live experiences while seeking diversity. Yet, it's equally important for the destinations themselves as well as for tourism enterprises, suggesting the need for competition, not at the level of prices but for the value of the services offered.

Our presentation is divided into three tiers. The first one treats the current status of the destination and the method of research. The second tier presents the findings of the survey, evaluates its tourist product and introduces alternative offers and tourist-oriented recommendations. In the last part, conclusions are drawn about the desirable models of tourism development in the Greek islands.