Students in Greece Put Tourism Under a Microscope

Thirasia is a Greek island rich with picturesque landscapes.  The island has numerous scenes that would seem perfect on a postcard. 

It also has a wealth of cultural values quite different from those we are used to in the United States. 

Grecian – and specifically Thirasian – culture is on exhibit from early morning till late at night in the form of food, fun and other features of daily life. For instance, a local community member (an elderly woman) wakes up very early every morning to make freshly baked loaves of bread.

And while we might open our day with warm bread, we’re just as likely to close it with dancing. One day, a group of us were able to try our skills at Greek dancing when the local physical-education teacher taught us a few simple dances while an elementary-school teacher provided the musical accompaniment on the traditional bouzouki. (A mainstay of Greek music, the bouzouki is a a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a very long neck.)

These kinds of culinary practices and traditional activities are important to preserve if the community is to benefit economically from tourism while still maintaining its sense of identity. I am both a student and a tourist here, and speaking as a tourist, I greatly appreciate the chance to eat traditional foods and to participate in the traditional dance and music of the island vs. ordering a generic gyro that I could have found in the U.S.

And that is our challenge here as student researchers: Finding ways to take advantage of tourism while also showcasing and preserving the unique culture of this island. After all, without preservation, the island becomes just another washed-up tourist destination. It’s our goal to help guide the community to gain economically while also preserving itself culturally.

Other aspects of the culture may help the community to achieve this goal. For instance, unlike the U.S. where it’s expected that children will “do” better and rise higher than their parents, most of the children on Thirasia are expected to continue in conventional avenues for making a living. They are  expected to follow in the family business and stay on the island. The major career ambitions for most residents are to either become a member of the Merchant Marines or to make a living in a family tourism business instead of even older traditions like agriculture. 

Thus, most parents do not see great value in education as they believe their children can make a very good living following a familiar career on the sea or in tourism. Compounding the lack of interest in education from the parents is the seasonal characteristic of tourism on the island. The busiest months of the year for tourism on Thirasia are between March and October. Many students are either pulled from school to work with their parents or are expected to work outside of school hours, leaving them little time to focus on their studies.

And so, we see that tourism itself has become part of the cultural and social fabric of Greece. It is yet to be seen if the positive effects of tourism in an economic sense are worth the cultural price paid.

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