Beyond Existing e-Tourism for Mountains: Findings from the Case of Zagori, Greece

Geological and Geomorphological Characteristics of Vikos Gorge and Tymphi Mountain (Northern Pindos National Park, Greece) and Karst-Related Social Processes of the Region

“…Beside geological and geomorphological values, the biological heritage is also significant. There are rare and endemic species in the area (Panagiotopoulos et al 2016), and healing herbs have been collected in Zagori for centuries, so the region became an important centre of folk medicine and the "vikogiatri" (meaning "Vikos doctor") were renowned healers throughout the Balkan Peninsula in the 17-19 th centuries. As for the forests, they are strictly protected in Greece, and in spite of all historical deforestation, the proportion of forests remained relatively high in Zagori.…”

“…Meanwhile, the role of tourism is continuously growing targeting different touristic groups (e.g., ecotourism, rural and gastro tourism). At present, the number of the visitors is around 100,000 people per year, though it is not precisely measured as there are no well-defined entry points where they could be counted (Panagiotopoulos et al 2016).…”

“…Nonetheless, the creation and working of the national park was not without conflicts. In the first decades after the foundation, local stakeholders often perceived restrictions and prohibitions due to the national park limitations (Panagiotopoulos et al 2016). In several cases, local people had difficulties to accept that their abandoned and forested agricultural parcels became protected as forests, and so they could not use them anymore.…”