During the last two decades tourism in Greece has become a mass industry concentrated in the island areas. Although they were not part of the more developed regions of the country, tourism in its current structure contributes to the strengthening of interregional disparities in Greece. Simultaneously, a question was raised whether the domestic tourism market can increase, and can it offer a socio-economic alternative to its further expansion. Social Tourism may be seen simply as a ‘reward’ for deviant behavior of the moral underclass or for groups that do not contribute greatly to society. Although low income is a problem beyond the control of the tourist industry, certain strategies have been adopted to gain access to this market, eg enabling low income consumers to pay current ‘market’ prices or reducing prices or in ways which simultaneously stimulate the local economy and increase the income of the state via taxation and a reduction of unemployment benefits. The motivations for provision are equally diverse: social tourism can be seen as the expression of a fundamental right to travel, as a vehicle for the economic development of regions, as a measure to increase social inclusion or as a route to greater European citizenship. In the current socio-economic context, the future of this kind of social tourism programs may be uncertain, given that one of the major concerns of the government is to decrease expenditures. The multi-faceted aspect of social tourism makes the phenomenon a difficult concept to define: with initiatives ranging from voucher schemes and government intervention, can it really stimulate domestic tourism and alleviate the effects of the current economic crisis? Keywords: Social Tourism, Tourism Planning, Regional Development, Tourism Policy, Domestic Tourism JEL: L83, O21, R11
During the last two decades tourism in Greece has become a mass industry concentrated in the island areas. Although they were not part of the more developed regions of the country, tourism in its current structure contributes to the strengthening of interregional disparities in Greece. Simultaneously, a question was raised whether the domestic tourism market can increase, and can it offer a socio-economic alternative to its further expansion.
Social Tourism may be seen simply as a ‘reward’ for deviant behavior of the moral underclass or for groups that do not contribute greatly to society. Although low income is a problem beyond the control of the tourist industry, certain strategies have been adopted to gain access to this market, eg enabling low income consumers to pay current ‘market’ prices or reducing prices or in ways which simultaneously stimulate the local economy and increase the income of the state via taxation and a reduction of unemployment benefits.
The motivations for provision are equally diverse: social tourism can be seen as the expression of a fundamental right to travel, as a vehicle for the economic development of regions, as a measure to increase social inclusion or as a route to greater European citizenship.
In the current socio-economic context, the future of this kind of social tourism programs may be uncertain, given that one of the major concerns of the government is to decrease expenditures. The multi-faceted aspect of social tourism makes the phenomenon a difficult concept to define: with initiatives ranging from voucher schemes and government intervention, can it really stimulate domestic tourism and alleviate the effects of the current economic crisis?
Keywords: Social Tourism, Tourism Planning, Regional Development, Tourism Policy, Domestic Tourism
JEL: L83, O21, R11
