ASSESSING TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ISLAND OF SKIATHOS: THE VIEWS OF LOCALS AND VISITORS

The island of Skiathos is an important tourist destination. The creation of tourist infrastructure is a necessary pre-requisite for confronting competition from other, equally popular, tourist destinations. In this paper an effort is made to identify the problems with regard to the island’s tourist infrastructure in order to make it possible for those responsible to take the appropriate measures for improving this infrastructure. This paper is based on data retrieved from a structured assessment questionnaire. It also combines two parallel research projects, with regard to both the local population as well as visitors, who are asked to assess the road network, the pedestrian walkways, the parking areas and access to the island’s beaches. In addition, the respondents are asked to express their opinion with regard to the drainage system, the water supply network, cleanliness, transport services as well as hotel facilities, restaurants and entertainment places.