Your support helps us tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word,’ which shines a light on American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know the importance of analyzing the facts of messaging. .
At such a critical moment in American history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to continue sending journalists to tell both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to block Americans from our reporting and analysis with a paywall. We believe that quality journalism should be available to everyone, and paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes a difference.
Hotels in Greek islands they may be forced to change pool water as climate change hits.
Tourist destinations may be filling their pools sea water this summer in response to worsening drought conditions, under new legislation being debated in parliament.
Greece has faced acute drought conditions for the past two years, and the tourist season puts additional strain on water resources, especially on islands with popular holiday destinations.
Elena Rapti, deputy tourism minister, announced government plans to remove existing legal barriers to pumping seawater into private swimming pools, which would allow the change in response to dwindling water reserves on many islands.
“This (draft law) regulates the framework for extracting seawater and pumping it for swimming pools. The focus is, of course, on preserving water resources,” said Rapti before the parliamentary committee.
Rapti spoke on Monday during a debate on a new bill to reform the hospitality industry, and her remarks were published on the website of the Greek Parliament on Tuesday.
Last year, the country was under pressure to reimagine a tourism a model that climate change is making increasingly unsustainable.
With its turquoise waters and reliable sunshine, the country has long been a popular holiday destination, attracting nearly 33 million visitors last year and generating €28.5 billion in revenue.
Global tourism has set new records compared to pre-pandemic levels, but is on the rise tourist could undermine economic support in the near future.
Anger over “over-tourism” has even sparked protests in recent years on the beaches of the Cyclades, a cluster of Aegean islands.
“People in Greece are increasingly concerned that (the Cyclades) are changing very quickly and that in a few years what is special will be lost,” said Dimitris Vajanos, an economist at the London School of Economics.
Greece is not alone. Residents of other popular European destinations say visitors are harming the environment and the local economy, particularly as short-term rentals on homestay websites such as Airbnb drive up housing costs and price people out of their cities.