Project Resound Prepares for Community Collaboration in Poros, Troizinia and Methana to create a sustainable tourism destination
Poros, Troizinia and Methana have set out to become a sustainable tourism destination, as part of Project Resound, Greece! From June 24 until July 10, this region so close to Athens will host multidisciplinary experts from all over the world that will come to support the local efforts in terms of strategy and communication. Let’s see the whys, the whos and the hows.
Why focus on sustainable tourism?
We have a unique opportunity to reassess what tourism looks like today and build a better model—one that respects the environment, cultures, and communities involved.
Research shows that travelers are significantly more likely to visit destinations and make purchases from organizations based on their sustainable practices. Also, sustainable travelers are less price sensitive and spend 51% more than other travelers. The sustainable traveler also tends to stay 7 days or longer in a destination as opposed to 3 days for other travelers. Conventional travelers tend to arrive in increasing numbers and flock to the same locations, resulting in overcrowding, increased stress on public services and infrastructure, cultural homogenization and growing dissatisfaction from residents. Although tourism can be a great form of wealth distribution, often as little as 5-10% of the money tourists spend remains in the destinations they visit. The benefits of tourism can only be fully realized through an inclusive approach and collaboration between the public and private sectors and host communities.
Who is involved in the local endeavor and who will benefit from it?
Project Resound is a social design consultancy that delivers strategic design capabilities to beneficiaries around the world. It collaborates with like-minded organizations to create solutions that are people-centered and purpose-driven.
Its local partner is Ec(h)o, a consortium of three local entities, Katheti, Live-Bio and Odyssey, aiming at promoting sustainable tourism in the areas of Poros, Troizinia and Methana.
Ecologists Without Borders is made up of exceptional individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to restore, protect, and conserve natural ecosystems, in worldwide partnership with those who rely upon them.
Lextant, the human experience firm, is a research and design consultancy with passion for understanding how the things we make affect how we work, live, and play. Through qualitative research and design, co-creation, and data visualization, Lextant provides organizations actionable and meaningful insights of their users’ desired experiences.
The stakeholders who would be positively impacted by sustainable tourism include primarily the municipalities of Poros and Troizinia-Methana, but also a wide variety of other entities, such as individuals and families; local tourism professionals; hotels; restaurants; activity suppliers; small businesses; school students; youth; cultural associations; schools of all levels, local cultural festivals, archaeological museums, the Municipal Library of Poros, etc.
How will we achieve our objective?
We will produce a vibrant, successful Sustainable Tourism model, following a four-phase process:
Phase 1: Discovery (completed)
First, in the Spring of 2020, we conducted extensive research on general tourism and sustainable tourism. We talked to locals and tourists to learn more about their particular expectations, experiences, services, operations, processes, and concerns, as well as about attitudes, problems, needs, ideas, and the environment surrounding the subject of tourism.
Phase 2: Definition (completed)
Then, during the Fall of 2020, we set out to analyze the data. Out of this work, themes began to emerge about tourism in the area and beyond, the people (locals and tourists), their needs, desires, tasks, and the nature of their problems.
Phase 3: Development (upcoming, Summer 2021)
A two-week workshop, taking part locally and virtually, aiming at creating viable design solutions to encourage sustainable and culturally-appropriate tourism in the region.
Week 1: June 26-July 3
Week 2: July 3-10
Phase 4: Delivery (documentation and plan of implementation)
During this phase we will document the project, as well as create a plan of implementation. Project Resound is committed to providing continued support and services to our partners and the people of Poros & Troizinia-Methana.
For more information, check out our insights page!