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brought together EU policymakers, representatives of public authorities from Mediterranean islands, researchers, circular economy practitioners and key stakeholders of the tourism sector brought their expertise to the table to look at how to move towards sustainable tourism with a collaborative approach. The white-washed villages and quaint churches against the backdrop of the Aegean's stunning blue waters is the essence of Greek charm. Waste prevention actions and circular economy perspectives. Sifnos, Greece - The tiny island of Sifnos, one of Greece's Cyclades Islands, is a world away from the bustling cruise ship and tourist scene in neighboring Santorini. Best-known for being the youngest volcanic island in Greece, the last violent eruption occurred in 1888, but you can still see steam seeping from gaps in the speckled stones and safely walk inside. This event - Minimising the hidden costs of tourism in Mediterranean Islands. Nisyros, part of the Dodecanese Islands, sits between Kos and Tilos and is still untouched by heavy tourism. This little-known treasure has a magical energy that seems to sing from. It is now time to take a step further and join forces to come up with shared plans that can minimise the hidden costs of tourism and manage it in a way that is not burdensome for the environment and the local population. Located just off the coast of Paros, Antiparos is ideal for a secret island getaway.
Loads of knowledge about the negative impact of tourism is out there and several small-scale pilot activities have been showing potential solutions to address it. Download this stock image: Hidden Bay of Sa Calobra, Tramuntana Mountains, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Europe - DGRWW7 from Alamys. The growing attention to the potential of sustainable tourism as a lever to promote circular economy is at the basis of the BLUEISLANDS project (ERDF Co-funding under the Interreg MED program), which is slowly coming to an end and is now ready to share its results. This is particularly true for seas-locked areas, such as islands. The annual massive tourist wave toward the Mediterranean, largely concentrated within a short period, places a great burden on local infrastructure, especially for waste management. Tourism has developed into a major industry and often represents the main source of income for the local economy. According to the World Tourism Organisation, in 2017 about one-third of the world 1.326 billion arrivals was generated in the countries surrounding this semi-enclosed sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is the world’s leading tourist region.