| Summary: | In the midst of the recent economic melt-down in Greece, economists are discussing the potential of tourism to pull the country out of its current woes. More than 16 million tourists visit the country annually whereas the sector contributes 15% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product and offers employment to 16% of the work force (Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2010). Concurrently, mass tourism has also caused a rise in pollution, a depletion of water supplies, desertification, rural emigration to urban centers, erosion of coastal areas and a drop in hygienic standards, all of which have had serious economic costs and caused residents to protest the industry’s mode of expansion. To that purpose, alternative types of tourism such as agrotourism and ecotourism have been defined as overarching objectives that complement the strategy for growth and employment. However, a closer look at the spots mostly known for alternative tourism activities shows the parallel emergence of other socio-economic developments that have slowly eroded Greek rural life and intensified the economic disparities between the local social classes. A closer evaluation of the damaging side effects casts doubt on the potential of alternative tourism as practiced today to inject growth into a stagnating economy.
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