Corfu Technical Chamber (TEE) calls for tourism spatial plan based on carrying capacity and local identity
The Chamber is requesting the establishment of carrying capacity indicators, a special framework for short-term rentals, and relief policies for already overburdened areas such as tourist islands.
CORFU. Corfu Technical Chamber (TEE) is participating in the consultation on the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism, calling for evidence-based planning based on the carrying capacity of each area, special rules for Airbnb-style short-term rentals, and measures to relieve pressure on already saturated destinations.
The need for a radical revision of the philosophy behind the draft Special Spatial Framework for Tourism currently under consultation is highlighted by the Corfu Regional Branch of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), which submitted its comments as part of the public consultation process on the draft Joint Ministerial Decision.
The position was formulated during the 8th regular meeting of the Branch’s Representative Assembly on June 2, following a recommendation by the Standing Committee on Spatial Planning, Urban Planning Applications, Cadastre, and Environmental Protection.
Corfu TEE notes that the new draft remains almost unchanged compared to the version that was submitted for consultation in 2024 and criticises it for not including an evaluation of previously implemented tourism policies, and for not defining measurable indicators to monitor the effectiveness of the proposed measures.
Particular emphasis is placed on the issue of tourism carrying capacity. According to the Branch, classifying areas based primarily on the number of beds per unit of land leads to distortions and does not take into account the actual capabilities and specific characteristics of each location. For this reason, it calls for spatial planning regulations to be based on documented carrying capacity studies rather than generalised classifications at the municipal level.
It is also stressed that changes to building regulations must serve environmental protection and the promotion of local identity, while a special provision is requested for the continuation and upgrading of existing tourism businesses.
In its intervention, the Corfu Technical Chamber proposes, among other things, the creation of National Tourism Capacity Monitors, the establishment of special spatial rules for short-term rentals, the definition of indicators to monitor carrying capacity, and the provision of specific standards for staff accommodation facilities.
The Branch concludes that the new spatial framework must address pressures in already saturated areas and support a tourism model adapted to the needs, infrastructure, and scale of each location, with respect for landscape, culture, and the environment.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
