Post on 15-Jul-2015
who is who?
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in
Greece and the capital of Macedonia, the
nation’s largest region. It has a population
approximately 1million, when in the same
time it is the second major economic,
industrial, commercial and political center in
the country, and a transportation hub for the
rest of southern-eastern Europe & the
Balkans. It was founded on 315BC (2329
years ago) and incorporated on Oct. 1912
(102 years ago) [Wikipedia, 2014].
Mediterranean climate
Autumn begins in late October, when the
first rain and low temperatures occur.
January and February are considered to be
the coldest months, with temperatures
around 0ºC, while some days temperature
reaches below 0.
Rainfall is frequent, with large intervals of
sunlight. Days with freezing or minus
temperature over more than 24 hours are
extremely rare.
There is snowfall during some winter days in
the northern parts of the urban complex and
the outskirts of the city. It rarely snows within
the city.
Spring begins in early March, with long
sunlight and sudden changes in weather
and temperature.
There are high temperatures during the day
and low temperatures during the night.
April is similar to March, but with higher
temperatures. The weather becomes stable
in May, with the first signs of summer.
June is a pleasant summer month, whilst
July and August are characterized by high
temperatures approaching or even
exceeding 40ºC.
September is a very pleasant month without
sudden weather changes and with very
pleasant temperatures. [Wikipedia, 2014].
Echo of the past
I. Church of Panagia Chalkeon
II. Blatades Monastery
III. Church of Saint Demetrios
IV. Church of Saint Sofia
V. Rotunda
VI. Church of Acheiropoietos
VII. Latomou Monastery
VIII. Church of Saint Panteleimon
IX. Church of the Holy Apostles
X. Church of Saint Nicholas
Orphanos
XI. Church of Saint Catherine
XII. Church of Christ Saviour
XIII. Church of Prophet Elijah
XIV. Byzantine Bath
XV. City Walls
XVI. Galerius Arch
XVII. White Tower
XVIII. OTE Tower
XIX. Museum of Byzantine Culture
XX. The Archaeological Museum
XXI. Macedonian Museum of
Contemporary Art
*1-XV UNESCO World Heritage
Monuments [www.thessaloniki.gr, 2014]
Be my guest
According to a recent survey, the average
tourist for Thessaloniki is 30-50 years old,
mostly travelling either for recreation with a
partner or for business/conference alone.
More specifically:
37% were affected by
relatives/friends
44% booked online
58% visit Thessaloniki for its
personality!!
37% use touristic sites
59% visited White Tower
74% use social media
[Aris Ikkos,2013]
Experiences
[2]
The Thessaloniki International Fair,
over 15 trade fairs, Infacoma,
Philoxenia, Agrotica, Zootechnia,
Detrop, Kosmima, Furnidec,
Furnima, EnergyTech are just some
of the pages in TIF-HELEXPO’s
exhibition agenda, which adds new
exhibitions every year and
promotes different proposals; all the
exhibitions organized by TIF
HELEXPO at its facilities in
Thessaloniki.
International Film Festival. The
oldest festival in the Balkans for the
creations of emerging film makers
from all over the world (Competition
Section for feature length films by
emerging directors presenting their
first or second film).
Reworks. The audio – visual
Festival of Thessaloniki that wishes
to present the most modern artistic
waves, from all over the world, to
Greece.
Thessaloniki Night Run
More than 12.000 runners of any
age and physical fitness participate
in the International Night Half-
marathon of Thessaloniki,
experience the unique organization
and flood the coastal avenue in the
Centre of Thessaloniki.
2014 World Rowing Coastal
Championships
Coastal rowing is the extreme
version, the adventure side of
rowing. It involves rowing along a
sea coast and out into the sea and
is one of the fastest growing
communities of rowers. Rowing on
rough water means that coastal
rowing is quite different from the
flat-water Olympic style of going in
a straight line. Coastal rowers
instead, often prefer rough water
which adds a whole new dimension
to the sport with many coastal
rowers cherishing the exhilarating
aspect of rowing in extreme
conditions.
Food festival
The annual gastronomic festival of
Thessaloniki boosting new trends to
the local cuisine. Tourists and
locals enjoy dinners at 10 Euro cost
every Tuesday in selected
restaurants.
Dimitria
The ‘Dimitria’ has its roots in 12th
century Byzantine Thessaloniki. As
a mark of devotion towards St
Dimitrios, the city’s Protector and
Patron, the people of Thessaloniki
established an artistic celebration in
his name.
[www.thessaloniki.gr, 2014]
Sustainable initiatives
In an international context of
protracted recession, the concept of
sustainability tends to be perceived
as a parameter of the global
economy only. However, it is
another way of managing natural
and financial resources so as to
ensure environmental protection
and social cohesion [Goethe
Institute, 2013]. In this light, there is
a limited number of sustainable
tactics that have been applied in the
Greater Thessaloniki Area, as they
follow:
Waste Water Treatment Plant-
Before the severe pressure on
water resources, furthe r
exacerbated by the high demand of
water for tourism, this project has
been built upon the findings of more
than 10 years experimental work
carried out by the Land
[3]
Reclamation Institute of the
National Agricultural Research
Foundation. Extended open canal
irrigation networks have been
constructed to transport water from
Axios and Aliakmon Rivers to the
fields. The secondary effluent of the
city’s WWTP is used for agricultural
irrigation after mixing with 1:5 ratio.
[Ilias, Panoras & Angelakis, 2014]
System of Urban Indicators- During
2009-2010 the Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki was first in Greece
to attempt the establishment of a
comprehensive set of indicators
covering the whole scope
(environmental, economic & social
pillars) of urban sustainable
development. Indicators are tools to
communicate sustainability
restoration to a diverse audience of
managers-agencies with different
agendas, multiple stakeholders and
the general public [Doren, 2008]. As
far tourism sector is concerned:
a. Number of tourists (# of arrivals)
b. Tourist accommodation (# of
overnights spent)
c. Number of hotels – hotel adequacy
(#,%)
d. Sectoral tourist analysis (%)
e. Eco-efficiency of tourism sector
(arrivals/emissions)
[Mousiopoulos,Achillas,Vlachokostas,Spyri
di,Nikolaoy,2010]
Megaro Goes Green
Venture- Thessaloniki
Concert Hall from 2013
launched its sustainable
campaign which included
online brochures,
renewable resources of
energy and several other
techniques, which over a
year have resulted into
20% reduction of energy of
this huge building, when in
the same time a taste of
sustainable methods has
been cultivated among
stuff and visitors.
[www.tch.gr, 2014]
Sustainable Urban Mobility
Plan (SUMP). The final
SUMP consists of 12
measures to be
implemented and
monitored, and
enhancements to the
SUMP methodology
including integrated pricing
and financing, travel
behaviour research and
specific attention to
mobility planning for tourist
destinations. In order of
priority for ThePTA, they
are:
•Creating a smart and integrated ticketing
and payment system;
•Allowing rapid bus transit, including bus
priority at traffic lights;
•Using awareness campaigns to discourage
the use of private cars and promote the use
of sustainable mobility modes (such as
public transport, cycling and walking);
•Promoting the tram system,
complementary to the metro, and new ways
of financing and restructuring bus routes
and accompanying urban regeneration;
•Ensuring intermodality between the metro,
trams and buses ;>
◦Creating a seaborne transport system in
the Thermaikos Gulf;
[4]
◦Providing flexible transit systems including
the restructuring of taxi services;
◦Integrating parking policy (joining together
Park and Ride and a controlled street-
parking system, with parking fees as
deterrent to car use and a revenue stream);
◦Pedestrianising and regenerating public
spaces;
◦Planning cycle lanes;
◦Creating a city bike-sharing scheme
◦Applying a congestion charge and
controlling access to the city centre.
[http://www.eltis.org/discover/case-
studies/thessaloniki-sustainable-urban-
mobility-planning-times-crisis-greece]
STRENGTHS
Already branded as a destination, chilled-
out attitude and easy living.
Mosaic of gastronomic cultures and wine
routes
Rich & varied nightlife
Great history to explore on every step of
the way- UNESCO monuments
East-West within 30min
Strong student community
Located close to nature treasures
Best waterfront in Europe
High level of Hotels
Pubic Security
OPPORTUNITIES
European Youth Capital 2014
Transportation hub for southern-eastern
Europe & the Balkans
International Film Festival
International Trade Fair
National Axios Park nearby
Most of its tourists prepare/ organize their
visit almost 10 days before arrival
Most of its visitors are IT/ social media
literate
Record number- 92% of the visitors
suggest it without preservation to others
WEAKNESSES
Port used mostly for cargo shipping; not for
passengers
Polluted air
Less than 2.5 m² green space per capita
[5]
Noise pollution
Lack of specific environmental policy
Problematic waste management
Short average stay (3.5 nights)
THREATS
Protracted recession globally
International tourists are mostly Europeans;
lack of connection with other markets
Comparison with other Mediterranean city
breaks; negative results
Low level of ARR & YTD in comparison with
other European Countries
Only 2 hotels are owned by international
firms
[6]
The Butler Model of tourist resort
development
The purpose of the Butler Model is to
look at the way that tourist resorts,
grow and develop. The tourist
industry, like all industry, is dynamic
and constantly changing. Therefore,
the Butler Model is a way of studying
tourist resorts and seeing how they
change over time and in relation to
the changing demands of the tourist
industry. These changes can then be
compared to the predictions as
shown on the model.
The Butler Model breaks down
tourist resort development into five
distinct stages.
Thessaloniki-Growth and
Development Stage
(more tourists arrive having heard
about the place by word of mouth,
articles in Travel Supplements in
papers such as The Sunday Times,
brochures or tourist guides. The
extra tourists attracted by the
publicity and people willing to visit
somewhere new will lead to the
building of new hotels, restaurants,
shops and services to cater for the
influx of people)
[http://geographyfieldwork.
com/ButlerModel.html]
[7]
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
What's measured gets managed! While
locally developed indicator systems allow
for a close supervision of local target
achievement, systems provided to cities
from national and European levels facilitate
comparison and benchmarking with other
cities.
The Integrated Urban Monitoring in
Europe (IUME) initiative by the
European Environment Agency
(EEA) brings together actors from
policy, research and stakeholder
organisations to coordinate,
integrate and harmonise the
numerous approaches towards
urban monitoring on a European
level.
The Reference Framework for
Sustainable Cities (RFSC) is an
online toolkit for European local
authorities working towards an
integrated management approach.
It provides guiding questions for
assessing projects and policies,
and a broad collection of indicators
in order for cities to compile their
individual set.
The European Green City Index
compares and ranks European
cities according to their
sustainability performance and can
therefore give hints on how to
measure such performance 'at
home'.
The European Green Capital Award
of the European Commission
identifies the city that shows the
most impressing progress in
environmental performance across
Europe every year, based on a set
of common indicators and criteria.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
CLIMATE AND ENERGY
Key issues on the local level are how to
reduce overall energy consumption, and
increase the share of renewable energy
production.
The most popular scheme to attach
a city to these goals is the Covenant
of Mayors. Launched by the
European Commission, this
European movement collects local
and regional authorities that
voluntarily commit themselves to
increase energy efficiency and the
use of renewable energy sources
on their territories.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design, is an
internationally recognized green
building certification system. LEED
recognizes whole building
sustainable design by identifying
key areas of excellence including:
Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency,
Energy and Atmosphere, Materials
and Resources, Indoor
Environmental Quality, Locations &
Linkages, Awareness and
Education, Innovation in Design,
Regional Priority. In order for a
building to become LEED certified
sustainability needs to be prioritized
in design, construction, and use. By
far the most credits are rewarded
for optimizing energy performance.
This promotes innovative thinking
about alternative forms of energy
and encourages increased
efficiency.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustain
able_city]
The purpose of an eco-industrial
park is to connect a number of firms
and organizations to work together
to decrease their environmental
impact while simultaneously
improving their economic
[8]
performance. The community of
businesses accomplishes this goal
through collaboration in managing
environmental and resource issues,
such as energy, water, and
materials. The components for
building an eco-industrial park
include natural systems, more
efficient use of energy, and more
efficient material and water flows.
Industrial parks should be built to fit
into their natural settings in order to
reduce environmental impacts,
which can be accomplished through
plant design, landscaping, and
choice of materials. The
landscaping of the building will
include native trees, grasses, and
flowers, and the landscaping design
will also act as climate shelter for
the facility. [Lowe, Ernest A. 2001]
SOCIAL INCLUSION
Cities boost both economic growth and
social relationships. However, Thessaloniki
is facing increasing problems related to
social and economic exclusion which
usually are concentrated in specific areas of
the city and affect particular groups.
The themes of the European Commission's
programme URBACT can provide support
to local authorities in creating tools to
promote social cohesion: 'Disadvantaged
Neighbourhoods' aims to tackle inequalities
within cities; and 'Active Inclusion' focuses
on supporting some of the most
marginalised groups.
The 'Agenda for new skills and jobs' should
help to fortify the labour market and reduce
unemployment, while the 'European
platform against poverty' promotes mutual
learning in order to reduce poverty and
social
exclusion. [http://www.sustainablecities.eu
/]
There is no doubt about the importance of
investing on tourism industry skills of
citizens with low quality of life.
.
ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE
Adaptation to climate change is one of the
biggest challenges today. As climate
change will potentially affect all aspects of
urban life, including of course tourism
activities, stakeholders have to increase
their knowledge on its possible impacts and
respond with proper adaptation plans.
The Knowledge Bank about adaptation
strategies for European cities allows local
governments to browse among a number of
materials, programmes, case studies and
tools dedicated to cities on this topic.
An opportunity for the municipality
representatives to connect with colleagues
and experts is provided by Resilient Cities,
an annual global forum for discussion
around adaptation challenges faced in
urban environments around the world.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT
The steps underlying such a management
system have been defined in the so-called
Sustainability Cycle via a regular process of
stock-taking, target setting, implementation
and evaluation.
a. BASELINE REVIEW
b. TARGET SETTING
c. POLITICAL COMMITMENT
[9]
d. IMPLEMENTATION AND
MONITORING
e. EVALUATION AND
REPORTING
The Reference Framework for Sustainable
Cities (RFSC) is a tool for local governments
to assess if a local project, policy or strategy
integrates all aspects of sustainability, and
to enhance cooperation between
departments of the local administration.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES
Considering that Thessaloniki is surrounded
by exceptional natural treasures, the
principle that one area of land can offer
multiple benefits, which can coexist and
enhance each other rather than competing,
is embedded in the green infrastructure
concept. For this reason Thessaloniki
should align with the European Commission
that has developed a Green Infrastructure
Strategy as part of the broader EU
Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
URBAN PLANNING
Urban planning connects, coordinates and
organizes many of the local policy areas that
lead to sustainable development such as
mobility, land use, energy, social inclusion,
etc.
Instruments to integrate the several aspects
of spatial development are provided by the
European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF), which includes among its aims to
reduce economic, environmental and social
problems in towns.
The European Spatial Planning Observation
Network (ESPON), provides comparable
information, evidence, analyses and
scenarios on territorial dynamics and
reveals territorial capital and potentials for
development of regions. According to Gillian
Bristow “again what emerged from the
ESPON case study by looking at Greece is
that the crisis has challenged the local city
and regional levels to respond. It seems that
the local actors and policy makers have very
limited power and capacities to do what they
want to do. There is a mismatch and
imbalance between what they desire to
achieve and what actually can be done due
to the inadequate decentralization of
political power, financial resources and
organizational capacities.” [SDRU: Spatial
Development Research Unit, 2014]
More focused on the urban level is
URBACT, a European exchange and
learning programme promoting sustainable
urban development.
MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT
Mobility has become an important value of
modern societies, however it also
contributes to climate change, air pollution
and the congestion of cities. Organising
local mobility in a sustainable way therefore
means to promote non-motorised transport
modes, improve public transport and
explore innovative forms of individual
transport. Furthermore, options that make
transport unnecessary right from the start
need increased attention.
[10]
The concept of Thessaloniki as Car free city
or a city with large pedestrian areas could
be part of the design of it as a sustainable
tourism destination. A large amount of the
carbon footprint of a city is generated from
cars so it is often consider being an integral
part of the design of a sustainable city.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_cit
y]
As major focus, sustainable transportation
should attempt to reduce the city’s reliance
and use of greenhouse emitting gases by
utilizing eco-friendly urban planning, low
environmental impact vehicles, and
residential proximity to create an urban
center that has greater environmental
responsibility and social equity.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_cit
y].
Despite being in a deep economic
recession, Thessaloniki should prioritize the
deep implementation of its SUMP
programme.
[http://www.eltis.org/discover/case-
studies/thessaloniki-sustainable-urban-
mobility-planning-times-crisis-greece]
CULTURE
Cultural management experts, directors of
national theatre institutions, pioneering
organizations and networks should offer
inspiration and propose innovative
interventions across the whole range of
culture. [Goethe Institute, 2013]
Local community should be placed at the
heart of the multicultural debate provoked
by the phenomenon of tourism.
HOLISTIC TOURISM MODEL-THE
BROADER AREA OF THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki is surrounded by extraordinary
landscapes and locations that can inspire
every visitor with their natural beauty, and
as a consequence local governors should
invest on its role as a core of perimetrical
tourism development.
In the southern part of the city, there
is the organized marina of Aretsou,
a convenient and pleasant mooring
spot for recreational craft, an ideal
starting point for a trip to Halkidiki or
the quaint islands of the Vories
Sporades. Thermaikos Gulf and the
picturesque beaches of Perea, Nei
Epivates and Agia Triada, are the
traditional resorts for holiday-
makers from Greece and abroad,
as they are easily accessible by
road along the gulf coastline,
forming indeed two green zones for
the city.
In the South-East, along the gulf,
stands Mt. Olympus in its divine
grandeur, home of the ancient
deities, with its unique flora.
According to Homer, on the peak of
Mt. Olympus stood Zeus’ palace,
the roof of which (the sky dome)
was made of copper and stretched
over the whole of the earth. “No
wind ever shakes the untroubled
peace of Olympus;
Homer – Odyssey”
Pella, the ancient capital of the
Macedonian state, where
Alexander the Great was born and
reigned, is another archaeological –
and not only – site. The ruins of
[11]
Alexander the Great’s palace are
there, within which one can admire
exquisite mosaics of great historical
significance.
Vergina, an ancient city of world
acclaim due to its famous royal
tombs of the 4th century B.C. and
its model archaeological museum,
is a site where one can admire, next
to the remains of King Philip II,
precious exhibits reflecting the
wealth, grandeur and glory of the
Macedonian Kingdom.
To the South-East of Thessaloniki
lies Halkidiki, a charming peninsula
ending in three fingers, famous for
its wonderful beaches, tiny islands
and small bays. Visitors can find
almost everything they desire there.
An opportunity open only to male
visitors is an excursion to the third
finger of Halkidiki Peninsula, which
for more than a thousand years,
has been the territory of the Greek
Monastic State of “Mt. Athos”, the
residence of monks of various
orders. This is a unique land
containing invaluable items and
treasures of incalculable historical
value.
HEALTH
If Thessaloniki’s governors are interested in
committing themselves to health and
sustainable tourism development, they can
do so through the European Healthy Cities
Network of the World Health Organisation
(WHO). The network's primary goal is to put
health high on the social, economic and
political agenda of city governments. It
proposes clear criteria for cities on how to
achieve this in phases that are renewed
every five years.
Promoting good health is also an important
goal for the European Commission which
uses the Second Programme of Community
Action in the field of health (Health
Programme) as its main instrument to
implement the EU Health Strategy. The
Health Programme offers funding
opportunities to various actors, amongst
them local governments, if they propose
projects that contribute at least to one of the
programme's 3 main objectives.
In addition, the Commission is working on
Health for Growth - Proposal for the 3rd
multi-annual programme 2014-2020.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
GOVERNANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Ever since the Local Agenda 21 mandate of
the Rio-Agenda in 1992, where local
governments world-wide were requested to
'consult citizens and community, business
and industrial organizations to gather
information and build a consensus on
sustainable development strategies', local
policy-making for sustainability is widely
understood to be much more than just the
decisions taken by the mayor or council.
[http://www.sustainablecities.eu/]
Thus, a fruitful and democratic way towards
sustainability is the use of indicators in an
extended level, so that stakeholders with
different backgrounds can create a shared
vision of sustainable tourism development.
[Mousiopoulos, Achillas, Vlachokostas,
Spyridi, Nikolaoy, 2010]
[12]
References
Aris Ikkos, 2013, Research of
clients satisfaction, Gbr Consulting
Doren, 2008, Ecological Indicators
for system-wide assessment of the
greater everglades ecosystem
restoration program. Ecol. Indic.
9(6) s2-16
http://www.eltis.org/discover/case-
studies/thessaloniki-sustainable-
urban-mobility-planning-times-
crisis-greece
Gillian Bristow, 2014, SDRU:
Spatial Development Research
Unit,
Goethe Institute, 2013,
International Conference
Sustainability & Culture
http://geographyfieldwork.com/Butl
erModel.html
Ilias, Panoras & Angelakis, 2014,
Waste Water Recycling In Greece:
The case of Thessaloniki, Open
Access, p. 2876-2892
Lowe, Ernest A. 2001Eco-industrial
Park Handbook for Asian
Developing Countries. A Report to
Asian Development Bank,
Environment Department, Indigo
Development, Oakland, CA
Mousiopoulos, Achillas,
Vlachokostas, Spyridi, Nikolaoy,
2010, Environmental, social and
economic information management
for the evaluation of sustainability in
urban areas: A system of indicators
for Thessaloniki, Cities 2010 377-
384
http://www.sustainablecities.eu/
www.tch.gr
www.thessaloniki.gr