Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study of Hotel Bourazani in North-West Greece

The paper discusses the sustainable tourism approach of Hotel Bourazani in North-West Greece. It identifies the problems faced by the hotel and compares it with other entrepreneurs. It also provides recommendations and government initiatives for sustainable tourism.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Sustainable Tourism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary:
The paper is dedicated in discussing one tourist destination of the north-west Greece
in the form of Hotel Bourazani. The place is an environmental park and the hotel is at the
centre of the park. The paper debates the business approach of the mentioned hotel and in
addition to that, it also categorises the problems that the hotel will face in handling the
sustainable tourism development in that region. Apart from this, the paper also summarizes
the contrast in the efforts of the hotel authority along with the other entrepreneurs in the
development of the sustainable tourism in that area. Along with this, the paper delivers a
detailed report on the policies that the government is in need to take in order to develop the
projects like the mentioned case and some essential recommendations for the same as well.

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Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Approach:...................................................................................................................................4
Problems:....................................................................................................................................6
Comparison:...............................................................................................................................7
Initiative of the Government:.....................................................................................................8
Recommendations:.....................................................................................................................9
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................10
References:...............................................................................................................................11

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Introduction:
The modern tourism industry is observed to expand in a significant manner. The
industry is providing considerable amount of opportunities to the entrepreneurs of modern
generation to enter with innovative ideas for the sustainable tourism. The concept of tourism
is proving to be a significant proposal for the society in the development and the growth of it.
The modern business market is considering the tourism to be a genuine business opportunity
due to the considerable amount of revenue that the industry is able to generate over the years
(Briassoulis and Van Der Straaten 2013). Several national governments are observed to
introduce the tourism plans as the society with significant amount of focus towards the social
and economic development of the society. The benefits of the tourism are acknowledged by
the governments in significant manner which plays an instrumental role in their approach
towards the implementation of the tourism plans. The social development in the form of the
increased employment among the people of the region, the infrastructural development of the
region with the significant amount construction of the roads, airports and transportation
facilities, the generation of the small scale businesses surrounding the tourist destination is
significant (Amir et al., 2015). The above mentioned aspects of the social development help
the region to improve its economic condition and are significant in the strive forward towards
the growth of the society. In addition to this, the modern tourism industry is observed to be
significantly associated with the nature. The preferences of the customers are inclined
towards the places stored with natural beauty. Hence the tourist operators are facing the need
of identifying the location with precise focus on the presence of natural elements in the
region (Waligo, Clarke and Hawkins 2013).
The paper is focused in specifying one such tourist destination of the north-west
Greece in the form of Hotel Bourazani. The place is an environmental park and the hotel is at

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the centre of the park. The paper discusses the business approach of the mentioned hotel and
in addition to that, it also identifies the problems that the hotel will face in managing the
sustainable tourism development in that region. Apart from this, the paper also summarizes
the comparison in the efforts of the hotel authority along with the other entrepreneurs in the
development of the sustainable tourism in that area. Along with this, the paper provides a
detailed description on the policies that the government is in need to take in order to develop
the projects like the mentioned case and some necessary recommendations for the same as
well.
Approach:
The hotel was primarily established for providing shelters to the hunters. The people
of the mentioned country significantly loves to spend their leisure through the activities like
hunting and the concerned organization was significantly in alignment with the preferences of
the customers in this aspect. The hotel was a small in size consisting only 10 rooms at the
primary stage (Mpourazani.eu. 2018). But a country like Greece was significantly collectivist
in nature and that was a major reason behind the arrival of the families of the hunter in the
hotel as well. The families of the hunters were observed to be significantly reluctant with the
hunting activity and were more concerned with the natural beauty that the region was
portraying. This was significant for the organization to understand that the region holds
sufficient resources to become a tourist destination instead of just a place for the hunting
activity. Hence a shift of focus in the thought process of the management was visible when
they considered the possibility of turning the place into an environmental park. This was
more appropriate for the organization in portraying themselves as a company that is
considering the tourism opportunity for all sections of the people and at the same time, is
thinking of maintaining the environmental balance as well (Edgell Sr 2016).

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With the aim of sustainable tourism, the organization built several roads, improved
the infrastructure of the region, created considerable number of warehouses for the storage of
the foods for the animals. In addition to this, the organization was facing the need of
improving the spaces for the customers and that was taken care by the Tassos family with the
construction of the special buildings for the receiving more number of guests (Lee 2013). The
infrastructural development that the organization undertook, included The “Peripteron” of
environmental education which was a centre for the visitors, a workshop for the fallen horns
of the animals for souvenir products. The list also included a building which was prepared for
the conferences with audio visual facilities for the usage of the educational groups. In
addition this, the organization was significant in developing the watermill of Bourazani
which later was the centre of the water movement and in recent times that is used for the
washing of the clothes along with grinding of wheat and corns.
Apart from this, the organization was significant in contributing to the research
operations which will help in the development of the sustainable tourism in collaboration
with the organizations like Forest School of Thessaloniki, University of Ioannina, Biological
Department of Freiburg University and the Department of the Natural Resources
Administration. Apart from this, the organization was able to align their service in
accordance to the preferences of the customers with the proposal of introducing an exhibition
centre for the 600 species of nearby plants and the most interesting part in it was that 45 out
of the 600 belonged to the Orchidaceae family (Mpourazani.eu. 2018). The organization was
significantly planning to add more number of rooms in the existing hotel along with an
additional hotel at Mertzaini. Apart from this, the organization was significantly focused in
the proper maintenance of the nature and the environmental elements which was facing the
threat destruction and repetitive tampering due to the increased amount of tourism. The

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organization was observed to collaborate with the local authority and the general secretary of
the Epirus for the same.
Problems:
The major issue that the organization was facing is the threat of the environmental
imbalance. As it was visible that the place was significantly attracting the customers due to
the presence of wild life and considerable number of plants, the number of customers for the
organization was increasing. This was notably good for the organization and for the growth
of the regional economy, but at the same time it was creating considerable number of issues
for the nature as well (Zamfir and Corbos 2015). With the plan for the construction of the
new roads and the buildings for the guests, the organization was disturbing the environmental
balance of that region (Jamal and Camargo 2014). In addition to this, the organization was
observed to be culling the animals which weigh more than the desired amount, have
considerable amount of bone muscle and teeth problems and are aggressive too.
These animals are used in the restaurants of the organization. As the animals are
forced towards the unnatural death, the organization can face considerable number of issues
from the various animal welfare organizations operating in that region. The activity of such
organizations has significantly increased and with the backing of the state and national
governments, some of these agencies has the power to even take disciplinary action against
the organization (Cottrell, Vaske and Roemer 2013). On top of that the sentiment of the
people can also cause considerable amount of difficulty for the organization in their business
conduct. As mentioned earlier, Greece is a country where the people are observed to have
significant amount of liking and passion for the hunting. The people and the value
dimensions of the society is observed to be such that they prefer the hunting in a significant
manner for their activity of leisure and the sudden change of the organization from a place for

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hunting activities to an environmental park was associated with notable amount of risk
element. However the idea of the transformation came from behaviour of the families of the
hunters, yet the organization was not fully assure of the responses that they will get from the
hunters.
Comparison:
The management of the organization was significantly different from the other
entrepreneurs as the approach from the part of them was different. The management of the
organization was observed to be notably practical as well. Yorgos and his team were
significantly focused in learning different techniques and in the improvement of their skills
unlike other entrepreneurs of that region who considers they know everything and has
nothing to learn anymore. A major difference among the other entrepreneurs operating in that
region and Yorgos is that the management of the Bourazani was concerned with the social
and economic development of that region as well (Weaver 2014). Whereas the other
entrepreneurs of the region was more focused in the generation of profit for them only.
The management of the mentioned organization was not concerned with taking risks
unlike the other entrepreneurs and that was significantly visible with their shift in focus
regarding the mode of the business operations where they got converted into an
environmental park from a place for hunting activities. The other entrepreneurs in that region
was significantly focused in the creation of tourism opportunities so that more number of
people can join and they be able to increase their profits. But with this, those organizations
were observed to harm the nature in a significant manner whereas the Tassos family was
more inclined towards the wellbeing of the environment. However the organization was
observed to increase the spaces and the infrastructure, yet the company was noticed in getting
involved and taking central roles in the researches for identification of the uniqueness of the

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flora biodiversity. Along with this, the organization was observed to take part in the wild life
restoration and was instrumental in the identification of the various species of the plants and
the animals. This was a significant contribution from the part of the organization as it helped
the society in learning the various information about the different species of the plants and
the animals (Aall 2014). The organization was much more than just a tourism operator for the
region as it was observed to protect the wild life in a notable manner.
Apart from this, the organization was able to think differently even in terms of the
business aspects. The Tassos family was observed to develop “photo safaris” of the
environmental park which was a significantly attracting feature for them. This was
instrumental in differentiating the organization from the rest of the organizations. In addition
to this, Yorgos was observed to learn English and the Tassos family developed their website
in Greek and English language in order to make sure that the people from outside the nation
do not get involved in the confusion of considering the organization as only a regional
tourism operator (Ruhanen et al. 2015). Yorgos was unique in identifying the scope of having
more market share with the introduction of the European tourists in that region with advice of
John Swarbrooke and he was quick to prepare for the improvement of the skills and qualities
which will be suitable for his organization to attract the European tourists.
Initiative of the Government:
The mentioned organization was a part of such a project which will get the favour of
the government for every aspect of it. It was visible that the research process that the
organization was observed to take with the help of the various institutions was a notable
contribution for the society. In such cases the government must take note of that fact and
reward the good work of the organization. The government in such cases, can lease the land
to the organizations where they will be able to build their new infrastructure and trigger the

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research operations (Nunkoo 2015). This will be a notable step from the part of the
government in making sure that the benefits that the society is getting from such operations
continues to be there for the people. Apart from this, as the organization was observed to take
care of the wild animals and in doing so the organization was subjected to provide them
quality food. The government was in need of considering sufficient amount of money for the
organization so that it be easy for them to take care of the animals and plants. Along with
this, the organization was observed to face the need of an effective business network for it
which will enable it to attract the customers from all over the world.
Yorgos and his family were seen searching for partners for the purpose of promoting
the business and research operations. The government was in need to identify foreign
connections so that it be able to connect them with the organization as a measure for solving
the mentioned issues (Woo, Kim and Uysal 2015). The government can also portray the
destination as a prime location for the nation’s tourism and that will be significant for the
organization in increasing their brand awareness. As the organization was facing the need of
the promotional activities for attracting the probable customers across the globe, the inclusion
of it into the tourism promotional activities of the nation will be significant.
Recommendations:
The organization is recommended to reconsider their strategy in case of the removal
of the animals which were having too much weight and considerable amount of issues in the
bone muscle and teeth, from the park.
The organization needs to take care of the absence of brand awareness. As it is
mentioned earlier that the organization was facing the absolute need of increased amount of
promotional activities, the organization must introduce promotional campaigns through

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various channel media channels like the YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. The video
presentations are observed to be the best possible way for the promotions of the park.
Yorgos and his family is in need to look for more opportunities generating from the
European regions. The organization must make sure that the possibility of having
considerable amount of customers from outside of the nation happens to be profit making for
them. The Tassos family is in need to make sure that they be able to achieve all the required
skills and improve their existing operations in accordance to the preferences of the target
customers.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be said that the mentioned organization is having a
dynamic management with precise focus on the growth of the organization. The government
has to encourage such business owners through various profitable schemes for them and if
needed with monetary help as well. The case is a significant proof of the fact that it is
possible to conduct a profitable business operations along with the social development of the
local community and with improving of the physical environment. This is a great example of
the emerging concept of corporate social responsibility where the organizations are liable for
the social and economic growth of the local community. However the government needs to
make sure that the legislation or the rules of the state be such that the organization conducting
the good work does not become an isolated example where the collective irresponsible
business conduct removes the positivity of the good organization.

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References:
Aall, C., 2014. Sustainable tourism in practice: Promoting or perverting the quest for a
sustainable development?. Sustainability, 6(5), pp.2562-2583.
Amir, A.F., Ghapar, A.A., Jamal, S.A. and Ahmad, K.N., 2015. Sustainable tourism
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Edgell Sr, D.L., 2016. Managing sustainable tourism: A legacy for the future. Routledge.
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