Current Status Study – Literature Review

05/09/2022
In the context of the assessment of the current status for Educational Tourism, a study was carried out in two parts. In the first part of the study a literature review was conducted.

In the theoretical framework of the review, the concept of sustainable tourism development, sustainable tourism was discussed and the importance of tourism in the European Agenda 2030 was mentioned where tourism will play an important role in planning actions to achieve them.

Particular emphasis was placed on the conceptual definition of Educational Tourism. With regard to young people aged 16-25, it is estimated that youth educational tourism is one of the most growing types of international tourism. A very important reference was made to Special Interest Tourism and hybrid forms of tourism, characterised by those which are aimed at certain types of tourists who have a specific motivation that characterises the form of tourism. Within the framework of special and alternative forms of tourism is cross-border tourism.
The study discussed various good practices, such as the “Callisto” Open Environmental Classes programme, the Borderless Culture programme (“Integrating Bulgaria – Greece Cross-Border Significance. Historical and Archaeological Assets into one Sustainable Thematic Tourist Destination”), QuattroPole and the cross-border project “NATTOURS – Sustainable urban nature routes using new IT solutions (2016-2018).

As regards good practices in Crete, the research and training project “Governance, Sustainability and Regional Innovation” was implemented by the Centre for Policy Research and Documentation (KEPET) and the Centre for Human Rights (KEDIK) of the Department of Political Science of the University of Crete.

Subsequently, the study set the criteria for the selection of proposed intervention sites based on the findings of this study. The criteria are as follows:

-Historical Interest (archaeological sites, excavation findings)

-Geological interest (caves, canyons, gorges, special geological formations)

-Architectural interest (buildings and infrastructure highlighting trends from different historical periods)

-Flora and Natural Products (Mediterranean biodiversity, association with local traditional products)

-Fauna (areas of high biodiversity and endemic species)

-Museums (of cultural or educational interest)

-Religious interest (religious routes of architectural and historical interest, faith as a link between the two countries)

-Folklore interest (cultural activities/festivals, traditions, customs)

-Urban tourism (tour of everyday modern life, gastronomy, exhibitions and festivals, guided tours of the urban fabric).

EduTourism is implemented in the framework of the INTERREG V-A Cooperation Programme “Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020” and is co-financed by the European Union (E.T.P.A.) and by National Funds of Greece and Cyprus.