The project to transform Paros airport into an international airport seems to be taking shape and recently received the latest approval from the titular minister. The project has entered the phase of public invitations to tender.
We requested a copy of the environmental impact studies from the Ministry of Infrastructure last December. We only finally received them recently, one day after the final signing by the minister! We are currently evaluating them, and we will come back to them. We have put them in public access HERE
We recall that the project consists of:
- Extension of the airstrip, which will go from 1,400m to 1,799m
- Extension of the aircraft parking era, which will go from 200x130m to 340×130
- New terminal which will go from 745m2 to 13,000m2!
Such a project, which consists of making Paros a hub for the Cyclades and will most likely attract significant investments from tour operators, developers, hoteliers etc., can potentially radically transform the character of the island, including its socio-economic characteristics, where we would see external interests taking over the local economy, and local communities marginalized.
It is to be feared that the island will irreparably lose its capacity to become a sustainable tourist destination and to remain a place enjoying a good quality of life.
It should be noted that the AdPAs are, for the moment, the only association of the civil society of Paros to call for a public debate for a very large-scale project.
So hello McDonalds and Costa Coffee, goodbye Maria of Prodromos and local fournos? How can we help organise a resistance movement to this destruction? Is the association organising an official rebuttal to the project that we can contribute to? Paros won’t attract economic and social development by trying to become an Ibiza. You can have economic and social development while being relatively secluded and without flooding and diluting local culture with mass tourism. Paros should aim at the elite tourism of environmentally conscious, culture-prone visitors. The respectful and environmentally conscious tourists that travelled to Paros in the past 10 years are already opting for less commercialised islands, let’s stop while we’re still in time. For once it’s better to do nothing.
A high visibility protest is surely called for? The environmental damage of increased flights coupled with the potential for Paros to lose its unique charm abs go the same way as Mykonos and Santorini should surely be a warning to all of us, especially happening at time where there is an increasingly vociferous reaction to air travel and many airlines are facing bankruptcy. Seems like madness.
A protest has to go along with an alternative proposal. We need to promote a mild and sustainable development plan that will preserve the quality of life on the island, attract privileged visitors, and keep tourism integrated into the local economy.
It’s too late. Paros has been fed to the sharks. They care nothing about sustainability, local residents, ecology or beauty. They only want money, and if they destroy the long-term life on Paros for their short-term financial boost, they will take it. Then they will move on to another place and do the same there leaving Paros a crippled wasteland. We all know the Mayor is in league with them. They are corrupt and dishonest. Is this the EU? Many years ago I heard that this was part of Greece’s ‘charm’, this type of thinking. I didn’t think it was charming then, and I don’t now.