Cave tourism is a special form of tourism, part of the broader category of geotourism. In Greece, despite the vast speleological wealth, the special and alternative form of cave tourism has not been exploited properly.This essay has been based on thorough research of the legal framework and case law that refer directly or indirectly to the protection of caves and the development of cave tourism. In addition, using websites of both state and private institutions as well as of speleological institutions, operating caves and their management bodies have been recorded. It appears that the complicated and unclear legal framework regulating ownership and supervision of caves in Greece contributes to their non-exploitation. The essay proposes the conduction of a new research to complete recording in a single database the existing exploited caves of the country, the setup of a registry of exploited tourist caves and the creation of a clear legislative framework that shall promote and exploit them. Furthermore, the inclusion of caves in regional tourism policy plans in order to achieve rational development of cave tourism in Greece.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
The Speleological Wealth of Greece
The Research
The Greek institutional framework
Criticism
Conclusion
References
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