Greek Islands And Tourists Search For 'balance' Amid Summer Crush

Hydra, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Aug, 2024) When Frenchwoman Nadia Romon picked the island of Hydra for her Greek holiday, she was looking for "authenticity" far from the crowded summer circus.

This ruled out big-name destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini.

"We wouldn't enjoy it! Too many people, too much stress," the 55-year-old said.

But with Greece and its crystal-clear waters firmly back on the global travel map after a 10-year debt crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, finding this elusive combination is easier said than done.

Last year, despite deadly fires and a long heatwave, 32.7 million foreigners visited the Mediterranean country -- the highest number ever.

And Greece's Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni told AFP in a recent interview that 2024 had "begun with a significant increase" in tourist numbers and was set to be "another record year".

"A balance must be found" between economic gains and the pressure visitors place on the environment and local populations, she said.

As he watched bathers plunge into the Aegean Sea's turquoise waters, 52-year-old Romanian holidaymaker Matei Paun observed that "it's not easy" to get away from the crowds with so many tourists.

An avid fan of Greece, Paun has a tip: opt for islands with no airport such as Hydra, around 90 minutes by boat from Piraeus, the major port close to Athens.