1. Introduction

Geographically and culturally located at the heart of Greece, Boeotia has a unique character and dynamism. It is renowned for the beauty of its mountainous landscapes and its notable monuments. In the mind of many visitors, Boeotia is connected with the following tourist attractions: the Parnassus ski resort, ancient Thebes and the Hosios Loukas Monastery. Boeotia, however, has much more to offer. Apart from its venerable pilgrimage destinations and the archaeological remains of its rich history, visitors can admire its enthralling biodiversity, engage in the varied activities available to tourists and savour its rich cultural heritage. Lately a trend has emerged of promoting the region's natural and anthropogenic resources through various geotourism and agritourism programmes, while special weight is placed on sustainable management by state and private sector bodies.

2. Current situation

Oriented towards agricultural growth and intensive farming due to its abundant water resources and the fertility of its many thousands of hectares of arable land reclaimed following the draining of Lake Copais, Boeotia turned to tourism largely around the mid-1970s with the construction of the Parnassus ski resort and the ski stations at Fterolaka in 1976 and Kelaria in 1981. The ski resort helped the historical and picturesque country town of Arachova to become a modern ski resort featuring dozens of hotels, rooms to let, taverns, cafeterias and shops offering the latest in winter sports equipment for skiing, alpine skiing, mountain climbing and hiking.

This growth and the promotion of winter tourism led to the growth and promotion of other forms of the tourist industry, mainly in the last fifteen years with the development of alternative forms of ecotourism. These new forms of tourism emerged largely after the mid-1990s as an alternative to the negative impacts of conventional mass tourism.

Modern tourist traffic has the following characteristics:

-Boeotia's proximity to the largest urban centre of Greece, Athens, makes it an attractive destination for overnight or short stays for the dwellers of the Greek capital and the Boeotians who have relocated to Athens.

-Boeotia attracts a large number of visitors in organised groups and individual tourists interested in specific destinations, mainly of religious and archaeological interest. These visits are usually one-day and do not involve overnight stay.

-Until recently, the development of Boeotia was not focused on the comparative advantages of the region (natural and cultural environment), ignoring modern tourist market trends; its growth was one-sided and rested exclusively on the above-mentioned destinations (Paranassus ski resort, Hosios Loukas Monastery).

-Many areas of Boeotia have been connected with environmental degradation because of intensive industrial activities (area of Aspra Spitia in the Distomo beach) and the multiplication of environmental aggravations from industrial waste (areas of Schimatari, Oinofyta, Asopus river) and intensive farming.

-The short tourist season (the months with snowfall in the winter, and 5-7 weeks in the summer in terms of seasonal tourism) cannot create incomes able to sustain tourism professionals throughout the year.

-Although the modernisation of the road network of Boeotia begun in the 1980s (217 km of national roads and
495 km of country roads) and the prefecture is also serviced by railroad, access to the hinterland is not easy for those without private transportation means.

-Shortcomings in terms of the promotion and organisation of Boeotia's tourist product created serious problems for the development and advertisement of its tourism sector.

3. Traditional forms of tourism development

Current tourism development relies on the natural and cultural attractions of the region and largely takes on the following forms:

3.1. Mountain tourism

Parnassus, Helicon, Chlomon, and Cithaeron mountains tower around the centre of the prefecture and represent the main destinations for lovers of mountaineering activities. On Mt Parnassus one can find a number of mapped climbing areas with safe routes. Mt Helicon offers many and interesting hiking trails and specially arranged recreation areas, and the same is true of Davleia. The slopes of Mt Cithaeron at Plataea and the slopes of Mt Parnassus are favoured by hand gliders, for they feature ideal launching spots for easy and safe take-off, while wind patterns allow for high and long-lasting flights. This is the spot where the Greek Hand-Gliding Cup is held each year (15-16 September).

3.2. Archaeological tourism

Boeotia is a region with rather large lowland expanses featuring rich water resources. Due to these features it has been inhabited continually from the Neolithic Age to date. The region is rich in monuments dating to the prehistoric times (Thebes, Orchomenus, Glas), the historical era (Thebes, Orchomenus, Plataea, Leuctra, Chaeronea), the Medieval times (Thebes, Lebadea, Hosios Loukas, Panagia Skripou) and the modern era (Distomo).

The museums of the prefecture are very interesting. The Thebes Archaeological Museum is one of the most important in Greece. Of great interest are also the archaeological museum of Chaeronea, the museum of Distomo and that of Schimatari.

3.3. Religious tourism

Religious tourism is short term tourism and such visitors can be found throughout the year, with peaks observed during specific dates connected with events of religious significance. The prefecture of Boeotia contains approximately 20 monasteries, nine of which continue to host active monastic communities and constitute centres of attraction for pilgrimage tourism. Most prominent among the monasteries are the following: the Hosios Loukas Monastery, the Pelagia Monastery, the Evangelistria Monastery, the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos Jerusalem, Panagia Skripou, the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Jesus Sagmata, the Makariotissa Monastery, the Monastery of Hosios Serapheim Dombous, and the Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery.

3.4. Seasonal Tourism

Coastal seasonal tourism nowadays constitutes the most traditional model of tourism planning and development. The prefecture of Boeotia is washed by the sea on two sides: one the side of the Corinthian Gulf at the localities of Aliki, Anticyra, Saranti, Zaltsa, and on the side of the Northern Euboean Gulf at the localities of Skroponeri and Dilesi. These localities are summer vacation spots mainly for the inhabitants of Boeotia, as well as for vacationers from the surrounding prefectures, as the capacity of their tourism infrastructures (mainly rooms to let) is not sufficient for large numbers of tourists. Lately the area has seen significant development through the construction of marinas, the operation of a water skiing and sailing school, and companies renting pedalos and canoes.

4. New forms of tourism development

The sustainable growth model, which added new social and environmental dimensions to economic growth in the 1990s, has enriched the concept of sustainable tourism. In terms of demand (tourists) there is a trend for seeking new destinations, featuring characteristics not available -at least to such an extent- in traditional holiday packages. In terms of supply, it has become understood that tourism policy should develop into new directions and the tourism product on offer must be diversified so as to cater for the new needs and, at the same time, exploit the existing potential. The most widespread forms of alternative modern tourism on offer in Boeotia will be outlined in what follows:

4.1. Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is a viable alternative from a social, environmental and financial perspective, and it concerns the visitor's wish to better understand and appreciate the intrinsic character of a place and its culture as a whole. Thus, the cultural product becomes part of the holiday package offered to tourists. Incorporating cultural assets in the holiday package enhances the attractiveness of the region and also increases the income society receives, both private individuals and the local communities. In most cases, the state's concern for the protection and development of monuments and culture dramatically increases the amount of cases of intense tourist interest. Boeotia is a foremost destination for cultural tourism, offering experiences related to:

-its geomorphology and mythology (Cave of Hercules, Minyan drainage works, the drained basin of Lake Copais, karstic springs of Lethe, Mnemosyne, the Charites, and the valleys of Hercyne and Mela, Glas, Corycian Cave on Mt Parnassus, etc.)

-food, wine and local cuisine (formaela – a traditional dairy product from Arachova, tsipouro pomace brandy, feta cheese,
yogurt, opsimotyri cheese, halva, koukotakia and pancakes, local pasta trachanas and chylopites, tasty jams, honey etc.

-the various festivals and events (three-day fair of St George at Arachova, the Vlach wedding and the Carnival of Thebes, Anticyra Fair for the Assumption of the Mother of God, the large trade fair at Orchomenus, the Ploutarcheia festival of Chaeronea etc.

-arts and architecture (Industrial Zone of Kria in Lebadea, the Watermills of Davleia, the traditional architecture of Arachova, the Byzantine architecture of the Hosios Loukas Monastery, Byzantine churches of Plataea etc.).

4.2. Therapeutic tourism or thermalism

Salt springs in the localities of Agioneri, Korobili, Anticyra and Skliri. Acid salt springs at Vathi and Glifa

4.3. Conference tourism.

This is a form of soft tourism and constitutes an important market globally. It relates to attending conferences, exhibitions etc, and requires the presence of the necessary infrastructures and easy access. Boeotia has made significant progress in the direction of developing this form of tourism. There are three conference centres in the prefecture, equipped with modern audiovisual systems, air-conditioning, organised secretariats, access to the internet etc; these combine typical tourist infrastructures (hotels, restaurants etc.) with special cultural infrastructure (cultural and educational events, libraries etc.).

-Evangelistria Conference Centre of the Thebes and Lebadea Metropolis. It is situated close to the village of Evangelistria in the municipality of Haliartus, next to the Evangelistria Monastery.

-Kria Conference Centre of the Lebadea municipality, Kria - Lebadea.

-Anemolia Hotel Conference Centre, at Arachova.

4.4. Agritourism

Agritourism describes forms of tourism and recreation that take place in agrarian areas and make the most of the characteristics of agricultural activities and the agrarian way of life. The development of agritourism in Boeotia is based on the region's agricultural activities, in parallel to the creation of the appropriate tourism infrastructure that is compatible with the natural environment. Agritourism usually develops in two distinct forms. In one form, tourists reside in farm-houses, where they participate in the daily life of the farmers and in agricultural activities in general (tending after livestock, preparing traditional products, other agricultural activities). This form of agritourism is known as 'farm-house holidays'. In the second form, tourist accommodations and rooms to let are created in non-urban settlements; these are not necessarily agrarian in nature, and tourists are usually hosted there in the 'bed and breakfast' system. This form of agritourism has become more prevalent in Boeotia and is connected with hosting of sporting events, offering courses in local cuisine and the ability to go on visits to monuments and have guided tours.

5. Tourism trends in Boeotia

In attempting to examine the seasonal fluctuation of tourism in Boeotia through official statistics, one could easily deduce that new trends have emerged lately, like for example the significant increase of elderly tourists, who represent a vigorously expanding segment of the tourism market in recent years. In this perspective, the local society and the authorities of Boeotia are oriented towards incorporating their wider region into a network of ecotourism and cultural tourism destinations. This will also contribute to the local economy, for such events do not ignore the human factor, on the contrary they view it as a defining factor in relevant activities. In other words, promoting this form of tourism is expected to help create the necessary social infrastructure for tourism development, where sustainability and respect for the environment constitute overarching concerns.