Greek Village Highlights Benefits of Light Tourism

Nymphaion, which not so very long ago was an isolated, abandoned village of 35 elderly inhabitants in northern Greece, has come to life again. The settlement and surrounding area has been transformed into a living museum of national heritage and unspoiled nature, population has tripled.

Nymphaion has become a European model of light tourism that respects the local culture. As such, it was one of the areas highlighted at the recent Territorial Cultural Systems forum and exhibition held in Seville, Spain.

The forum was run by the Delta Project, which began in 2002 and ends this year. It is based on the awareness that capitalizing on an area’s cultural heritage does not impede development. An area’s cultural heritage could include anything from archaeological sites, architecture and monuments to music, theater, visual arts, local customs and contemporary festivals. The program insists, and has proven, that this form of mild tourism can provide jobs, economic development and opportunities for social integration, which bring prosperity to local communities.

The Greek Culture Ministry is a member of the Delta Consortium and it had two stands at the recent exhibition in Spain where it presented five Greek bodies and their work: the Nymphaion Municipality (local regeneration), the Archaeological Institute of Aegean Studies (uniting archaeological sites with the city of Kos), Rhodes Municipality (restoring and highlighting the architectural heritage and raising local awareness), Cyclades Development Association (three programs promoting ports and sustainable tourism and combating social exclusion), and the Olive Roads Cultural Organization (links between Mediterranean peoples and the olive tree).