Spatial planning: Balancing sustainability and local needs in Greek tourism

"The issue is not the existing legal framework but how we will implement and enforce it," former prime minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos said during a panel discussion titled "A new approach to the existing spatial regulatory framework," at the "Reimagine Tourism in Greece" conference on Wednesday.

Moderated by Nektaria Stamouli, deputy editor of Kathimerini English Edition, the discussion followed a recent public consultation on a new special spatial framework for tourism, which has come under fire by critics who say that its one-size-fits-all approach fails to consider the effects of short-term rentals from platforms like Airbnb on local housing markets and tourism dynamics.

Pikrammenos emphasized that the current regulatory framework is outdated and must reflect the distinctive characteristics of each area. "There should not be blanket provisions; each area has its...