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Cash versus culture: tourism projects hit trouble in GreeceConflicts between development and conservation affect many countries. But in Greece concerns for the environment and antiquities are combining with labyrinthine laws, zealous officialdom and hostile political ideology to create hurdles that even investors familiar with the country cannot understand.Greece's recovery depends largely on foreign investment. Seven years ago it embarked on a privatization program to raise 50 billion euros for the near-bankrupt state. To date it has brought in just 4.4 billion, and government critics say excessive red-tape is a major reason for the dismal performance.For frustrated developers, the suspicion is that Greece is biting the hand that feeds it. But many Greeks feel bound to protect their country's 3,500 year-old cultural heritage and some of Europe's most beautiful coastline from excess development, however pressing the need to raise cash.Publicly, the Greek state says it is actively pursuing investments. But the track record seems to tell a different story sometimes, especially in the case of a waterfront property that was once the site of Athens airport.For the past 16 years the old Hellenikon terminals have stood abandoned on a sprawling wasteland three times the size of Monaco, along with derelict water sport venues used for the Athens 2004 Olympics.Backed by Chinese and Gulf investors, Greek developer Lamda came up with an 8 billion euro plan to build one of Europe's biggest coastal resorts, covering 620 hectares (1,532 acres).The project was to be a game-changer for Greece, bringing in hundreds of thousands of tourists and creating 75,000 jobs in a country where unemployment is still over 20 percent.Syriza strongly objected to granting a 99-year lease on the state-owned site while it was in opposition, keen to turn the area into a public park. Then after winning power in 2015, it was forced to relent on its ideological rejection of privatization and accepted the development under a third international bailout deal for Greece.But the problems weren't over. Greek authorities delayed decisions on whether part of the old airport buildings should be classified as historic, and on the course of action should antiquities be found. Then the forestry department declared 3.7 hectares of eucalyptus, cypress and olive trees on the estate as protected woodland. Archaeologists warn that development must not threaten the very sites that visitors wish to see. "If we fail to protect our cultural environment as a crown jewel, tourism products that potential investors want to sell will lose their value," said Stathis Gotsis of the Greek Archaeologists' Association. "Declaring and demarcating an area as an archaeological site doesn't mean that you cannot have an investment there. It can go ahead and be well protected and supervised by the archaeological department," he told Reuters.For instance, construction of the Athens Metro since the 1990s has unearthed important antiquities which are now on display for visitors and local people alike.
EasyJet passengers left high and dry in Greece – in part by mating turtlesTourists left waiting on island of Zakynthos because of technical fault and then flight curfew protecting sea creatures
Gypsy moth makes its home at HeathrowHeathrow’s biodiversity engineers – (yes, there is such a profession, and yes, the UK’s busiest airport has some on its staff) say they have discovered the 3,000th species known to be living in the 170 hectares of land it manages.The Box Tree Moth is one of 540 moth species discovered at Heathrow. So far this year 210 new species have been found, 146 of which have been mostly various types of moths, flies, bugs and higher plants.As Heathrow director of sustainability, Matt Gorman, says: "We have a huge interest in looking after smaller winged friends. This discovery marks a major milestone for Heathrow’s biodiversity team who manage a species count more than treble of that of the London Zoo’s."
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Topic: Cash versus culture (Read 2988 times)
