Assessing the Environmental Impact of Mountain Tourism. The Case of Elatochori Ski Centre, Greece.

Abstract

The development of mountain tourism in Greece is a recent phenomenon and one that has been affected by the economic crisis. Key factor to its development was the ski resorts that spread through the country especially in the last twenty years. The present paper focuses on a ski resort in Greece, Elatochori Pierias, attempting to assess the impact of mountain tourism on the sustainable development of the area. Apart from the obvious economic benefits, the ski resorts have negative impact on the environment and the society. Therefore, ski resorts cannot be characterized as sustainable according to the spirit of the three pillars of sustainability.