Santorini, the island that neither the Gods nor the Covid-19 can destroy

There are smart destinations and famous destinations. Sometimes they match and sometimes they don't.

Around the world, the tourism plane made a forced landing and, abruptly, leading to zero tourist destinations that, until last February, made travelers and tourists dream.

Santorini is one of those destinations. A desolate, arid, and wild island. A symbol of resilience between man and nature with the second one winning several times. Even if it had to explode in a volcanic cataclysm.

But man continues building and resisting. Overlooking cities on the 'Caldera' cliffs, sustainable or efficient buildings based on abundant materials (basaltic stone), quality wines that, in the 18th century, became famous among Russians.

But it was in the 1970s that landscapes and breathtaking sunsets made Santorini one of the most exclusive destinations on the globe. Especially a destination for wealthy and glamour lovers and secret hideaways for romantics, artists, and other creatives in search of divine inspiration. 

It is 2020 now and Santorini has almost no secrets. It is so open that even Jacuzzis and infinity pools are only used for photos and as a reminder of other golden years far from the current massification.

If we look at the myths and legends surrounding Santorini, this island had the misfortune to be devastated by the fury of both Zeus and Neptune. But it survived. Nowadays it is the Coronavirus, but, until very recently, it was widespread and wild tourism.

The resilience of the locals and the island itself has been tested over decades of unregulated growth in new buildings, hotels, and other threats to the natural ecosystem. It was a problem until last February. Then, the virus came, and the pandemic took away the tourists. 

Business and locals look abandoned again to their fate, but with the opportunity to reconnect with what seemed to be irretrievably lost: the soul of Santorini. 

It is July and, with Greece being one of the countries with the fewest cases of Covid-19, the opening to tourists has followed a strategy meticulously prepared so that everything returns to normal or, at least, the economy is relaunched. Let us not forget that, in addition to Portugal and Spain, Greece is one of the countries that most depends on the revenue from tourism. 

The first flights started to arrive. Low-cost and other companies fly at half capacity. There is still big fears, and it will take some time before the sold-out flights are resumed.

Hotels register a 50% drop (occupancy) compared to the previous year and with prices, which are also below the 'normal' for the season. Note that, it is time for promotions and discounts.

The same thing happens in restaurants. Many still closed. In Oia and Imerovigli, they haven't even bothered to reopen yet. Thera (Fira), for its part, being the capital, is the place where we can choose between the accessible and the most exclusive.

Back to over-tourism?

But the question is whether Santorini should return or not to the pre-Covid-19 period?

Here, we have a complex and difficult to manage dilemma, since, as it is an island destination, it is more difficult to replace properties and investments that, however, have been valued in many cases in an excessive and speculative way.

The owner of a beach restaurant explained to a tourist-investor the money needs he would have to complete the project for the lot with accommodation included. 

Many investors are now in Santorini looking for business opportunities. And this may well be the way to relaunch the island for a different tourism model, far from massification, based on sustainability and, in short, accessible to all classes. But there must be the courage to change.

That courage had already manifested itself in 2017 when the local government imposed the daily limit of 8000 visitors on the island. That year, more than 2 million tourists visited Santorini putting pressure on residents and forcing the import of goods, namely drinking water, whose consumption increased 46% that year.

Sustainability is nothing more than that. Accounting for costs and profits. If it is negative for public treasuries, corrections must be made. And so, it happened.

Currently, the island's occupation maybe around 10% of the usual, business and investments lose money.

In 1646 BC, the largest volcanic eruption ever witnessed by mankind may occur in Thera (Santorini). It destroyed the island that, according to theories and legends, would host an advanced and modern civilization, originating the myth of Atlantis. Today, the volcano is dormant. But earthquakes continue to occur and some cataclysms like the pandemic threaten Santorini again.

But, as long as the sun rises and the sky exists, it will remain a dream destination. A destiny that gods and mortals’ envy. Despite the poor state of the roads. Despite the wild urbanization. Despite the dryness. There will always be a sunset and the magic will happen again.

Well, Santorini doesn't have to be smarter. It's enough to survive.