On the third and final day of Elafonisos Eco Week, we focused on sustainable tourism, reinforcing our commitment to making Elafonisos a model for responsible travel and ecological resilience.
Enrico Toja, President of Elafonisos Eco, emphasizes the importance of knowing your customers, especially in tourism. For islands like Elafonisos, understanding who visits, their needs, and preferences is crucial for success. For example, selling shampoo should target the right audience; a young crowd differs from older visitors.
Over the past three years, a survey with 2,500 responses helped identify visitor profiles. About 50% want to return, while 7% don’t, showing the need to improve the visitor experience. Surprisingly, 76% of visitors didn’t know about the local archaeological site Pavlopetri, highlighting the need for better promotion.
Other insights include 80% support for electric buses on the island and a lack of awareness about purified water kiosks. Half of the visitors believe there is too much plastic pollution, signaling environmental concerns.
The survey also revealed that most visitors are aged 26-50, with diverse nationalities including Belgian, American, Mexican, and more. This knowledge helps tailor services like food options to match tourists’ tastes.
Knowing visitor activities and accommodation preferences allows better planning to encourage longer stays. For instance, 54% stay only one day, so offering more attractions beyond the main beach could extend visits.
Many tourists are unaware that Elafonisos is part of Natura 2000 or that endangered sea turtles nest nearby, which are valuable assets for eco-tourism.
Enrico and his team aim to expand their survey to better understand tourists’ needs and improve services. They stress that accurate tourist data is essential for sustainable development and promoting the island’s unique features.