FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

TOURISM POLLUTION

Environmental Degradation
12th Gymnasio of Heraklion

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily ref lect those
of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA ca n be
held responsible for them.
CRETE is the fifth largest island in the
Mediterranean and a premier tourist
destination.

It is one of Greece’s most attractive destinations

as one in five tourists arrive in the country to
vacate on the island!

Over 3.6 million tourists visited Crete in 2022.

Our island has the 2nd Largest Number of

Beachfront Hotels in the Mediterranean. 677
hotels are built next to the beach.
Crete has been a prime tourism destination since the 1960s
because it offers:
• Wonderful Sandy beaches
• Stunning Canyons
• Rich cultural history that includes myriads of ancient sites and
archaeological sites.
 …and although tourism has
significantly helped the economy of
Crete…
This is just one side of
tourism…
 Tourism affects the environment!

❖ Depletion of natural resources (water, energy etc.)

❖ Overconsumption and waste production

❖ Pollution (water, air, noise)

❖ Greenhouse gas emissions and contribution to global warming

❖ Physical degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity

❖ Soil erosion and unsustainable land using

Unfortunately Tourism Industry
has degraded Crete’s natural
environment…
WATER SCARCITY IN CRETE
Despite the high average water availability (3425 hm3/year), water scarcity
events occur in Crete due to:

• Local climatic conditions.

• Seasonal mismatches between water availability and demand (e.g., water

demand is higher during summer season)

• Overexploitation of groundwater.

• Lack of modern frameworks of control and water management.

 In case of a next drought, Crete will face
very serious water shortage problems.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR WATER SCARCITY IN CRETE…

• Management plans on water demands by local authorities.
• Systematic recording policy of water resources.
• People education on proper water use.
• Use of non conventional water resources (desalination, water
storage, rainwater harvesting).