OR Virus It has long been a tourist destination exclusively for youth and fun. After all, it was never only that. Island – legend, flooded with the unique aura of the Cyclades, its diamond and hospitable people, with fanatical visitors, travelers and great artists, has always been the choice of those looking for light, wildlife, authentic, inspiration.
From the generation of hippies of the 60’s, the 80 ′ s rockies and the 90’s Ravers, to well -known shipowners and businessmen, Gaiti and Simulation, David Bowie and BB King, Ios literally hugged the world. Today, the Cyclades diamond is at a crucial crossroads. Can the growing needs for tourism development be combined with the legendary nature of the dry stone and the unpretentious natural beauty?
“We are missing to be Standard of balance and sustainable and fair development It is enough to put terms and rules for all, ”says the mayor of the island of Gikas Gikas and talks about the interventions, problems and opportunities.
The goal, as he says, to add quality accommodation to add projects and actions that will entirely upgrade the daily lives of residents, tourism experience, enhance environmental protection, as well as management of natural resources. “Ios was, is and must remain an island for everyone – both for visitors, but also for permanent residents. She must not lose her character and charm. We reside permanently 2,300 citizens of which 400 children.
This is our real wealth. These kids want to study, return to the island, make us all better. On an island that will remain alive in winter – a viable, human -friendly island, “the mayor of the island emphasizes.
Nature – History – Art
In Ios, the Early Cycladic Culture, the island of pirates, flourished with 86 km coastline and 32 km of sandy beaches, with rich flora and fauna. As Mr. George Dimopoulos from AMKE explains, “Ios Adventure”, the real wealth of the island is nature, history, culture and its people.
Having mapped all the trails on the island, he points out that the visitor, in addition to the rest of the sun and the sea, can enjoy a wild experience in nature, walking between the dry, monuments of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, to tour the place, Prehistoric sites of Europe, to visit most of the 180 chapels of the island but also to understand how farmers and farmers lived in the “old years”. “These make up the wealth of the island that must be protected in every way,” he says.
In today, culture is one of the central axes of the island’s sustainable development strategy. The recent inauguration of the impressive, state -of -the -art museum of “Gaiti – Simism”, which dominates the continuation of the island’s natural landscape, put Ios at the heart of the cultural map. “The Gaiti Museum – Simulation has nothing to envy the Museums of Great Metropolises. Its architecture coexists and becomes part of art, which hosts and becomes one. Ios with this museum becomes unique, as such art is the real food for spirit and emotion, “says the distinguished artist – interior designer, Evangelos Michael.
The beautiful theater “Odysseus Elytis”, the archaeological and folklore museum, the multitude of small and largest artistic events and musical events, reinforce the cultural and cultural character of the island, which the South Aegean Region has pledged to enhance it.
Projects and Actions for Sustainable Development
At the heart of the placements for the development of the place is the upgrading of the port, so that it can serve three ships at the same time. The aim is to better manage passengers and vehicles, and the planning also includes the creation of hindering positions for yachts as part of the strategic strengthening of maritime tourism.
At the same time, the asphalt pavement of the Psili Ammos – Malware – Spithara road axis is completed, a project that is expected to reduce the route to Manganari by about 20 minutes and will significantly enhance road safety. Whereas, one of the most characteristic projects on the island is the sewer in Mylopota – a project that had been pending for nearly four decades and is now in the final stage of implementation. In the same direction, the biological cleansing unit is upgraded, by adding tertiary treatment, so that the water is reused and returned with safety to the aquifer.
Watering is one of the most important problems for Ios. That is why both new drilling and desalination extensions are being launched to meet the needs of domestic use. At the same time, in collaboration with WWF, Medina and the Local Save iOS initiative, the construction of an additional 120 microphones and embankments will be built in October, which will be added to already 50 exists, with the aim of enriching the aquifer.
Emphasis is also placed on primary production, with crops such as figs, olives and honey, while attempting to maintain the shrinking livestock population of the island. According to Ms. Eleni Tasiakou from the traditional cheese factory, “Talki”, in the mountains of the island, whose spaces are a real folklore museum, accessible to all: “Greek farmers must be supported by both consumers and official states. Our representatives only if they travel and see how these people live and work can feel their needs. “
The funding of the South Aegean Region is implementing the construction of a new nurseries and the allocation of a land for housing the local EPAL. In addition, the last stage of the implementation is the pet shelter, with a fully equipped veterinary clinic.
As far as Health Services are concerned, according to Mr Gikas, the island already has a well -equipped health center, while the municipality offers an annual reinforcement of 8,000 euros as an incentive to fill the pediatrician’s position on the island. In addition, housing hosted houses for hosting farm doctors are formed at the site where the old slaughterhouse was hosted.
Significant is the proposal in the framework of the local urban plan for the construction of an airport in Plakotos. The mayor points out that such a project is not a luxury, but a essential need to upgrade the quality of life of residents, especially during the winter months.
Finally, the creation of a sports park – multipurpose for the whole family is being launched, and it goes without saying that investments are made in tourist infrastructures aimed at visitors to all financial levels.
Mr Gikas concludes by saying: “Ios still has the potential to grow balanced, reaches the rules and terms for all. Local and regional urban planning plans that are being implemented are a” golden opportunity “for a future sustainable and without exclusion.
Invited by “CK Strategies”, on a recent visit to the island, the famous American Travel Blogger Suzanne Bruch (Wonderful_places) said “it is like living in a postcard and in a myth” at the same time. It is certainly no coincidence that a German tourist blog has set Ios at the top of Europe’s top ten destinations for this year. However, Ios is facing a crucial turning point, setting the aim of remaining the island of genuine, indestructible, wildlife, blue and white, balanced with modern demands. Will he do it?