Exploring Alternative Tourism in Aspropotamos: Leveraging Unique Territorial Assets for Sustainable Development

Angelos Ntalakos (), Dimitrios Belias and Ioannis Rossidis
Additional contact information
Angelos Ntalakos: University of Thessaly, Department of Business Administration
Dimitrios Belias: University of Thessaly, Department of Business Administration
Ioannis Rossidis: School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University

A chapter in Synergizing Management, Culture, and Arts for Tourism Development - Vol. 2, 2026, pp 685-705 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This study examines the issue of the transition from mass, conventional tourism to more specialized, alternative forms, focusing on people, small communities, cultural, and ecological dimensions, as well as sustainable development. In this context, the case of the mountainous area of Aspropotamos in the Pindus Mountain range is analyzed, an area that possesses significant natural and cultural wealth. Achieving alternative tourism development in the region requires strategic planning, with goals to extend the tourist season, highlight cultural identity, capitalize on local advantages, and network the local economy. The study highlights that Aspropotamos is fertile ground for adopting a new model of tourism and sustainable development, as it has significant tourism resources, natural and cultural heritage, a local community with strong connections, and a productive system with an identity. The research focuses on how alternative forms of tourism can be developed, with key characteristics being a small human scale and the utilization of the region’s unique elements, such as agriculture, livestock farming, and culture, creating positive results for the local economy. The general conclusion is that mountainous areas, like Aspropotamos, have all the characteristics to support an original plan for sustainable development, if local stakeholders coordinate and organize their activities with respect for the natural, residential, and cultural environment.

Keywords: Aspropotamos; Sustainable tourism; Natural environment; Cultural environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L83 M10 M12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-17534-2_42

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783032175342

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17534-2_42

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().