Cultural heritage on islands: pressures from tourism, Airbnb and conservation challenges: evidence from Rhodes Island, Greece

Efstratia Chatzi, Evangelia – Theodora Derdemezi and Georgios Tsilimigkas

Planning Practice & Research, 2025, vol. 40, issue 5, 1240-1262

Abstract: Tourism has transformed Rhodes Island into a major destination, but unregulated growth threatens its cultural heritage. This study analyses the spatial relationship between short-term rentals, built-up expansion and heritage zones using GIS-based methods. Results show that over 46% of built-up areas lie outside official settlements, with 20% overlapping archaeological sites. Of 953 Airbnb listings in these zones, 64% are outside settlements. These patterns reveal heritage landscapes becoming informal tourism hubs, increasing pressure on archaeological and historical areas. The findings highlight the urgent need for integrated spatial planning and sustainable land-use policies to safeguard cultural heritage from tourism-driven expansion.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/02697459.2025.2547980

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