Project duration: 21/11/2025 – 23/11/2025
Status: Completed
Grantee: Odyssey

THE CHALLENGE  

Like many coastal regions in Greece and across the Mediterranean, the Argosaronic is experiencing growing pressure from high-volume seasonal tourism that is increasingly stretching local environmental limits. Short, intense tourist seasons place sudden strain on essential services, natural resources and waste systems, while consumption patterns increasingly disconnect visitors from local ecosystems and seasonal realities. At the same time, excessive water consumption, especially in areas suffering from scarcity and overuse of fragile landscapes accelerate water stress and habitat degradation and leaving island communities more vulnerable to long-term environmental impacts. 

Beyond these pressures lies a deeper challenge: many visitors enjoy the region without realising how closely their experience depends on the health of its land and sea. The landscapes, flavours and traditions they come for are sustained by ecosystems already struggling under intense seasonal demand. When this connection is overlooked, nature and culture begin to erode, and the region’s long-term resilience is put at risk. 

A new approach to tourism that supports local communities, strengthens the ecosystems that sustain them and encourages visitors to engage with the place in a more meaningful way is essential to safeguard local livelihoods and ensure that the region remains vibrant and welcoming for generations to come.  

THE SOLUTION  

Odyssey NGO approached AEF with an innovative idea: to test whether an alternative tourism model, rooted in culture, local knowledge and environmental awareness, could be both appealing to visitors and beneficial for the region. Their proposal became the LALERI Festival*, a three-day, off-season experience in November designed to distribute visitor activity beyond the summer months and to showcase Troizina, Methana and Poros through themed daily activities. 

The festival blended cultural storytelling with guided walks in iconic natural and historical sites, created direct connections between visitors and local people and producers, highlighted the deep relationship between communities and nature, and gently introduced modern environmental challenges that shape both local life and the visitor experience. 

Crucially, LALERI was designed to feel welcoming and pressure-free for participants. Instead of overwhelming visitors with heavy information, the festival encouraged practical, easy-to-adopt solutions, hands-on engagement, and emotional connection through stories, flavours and landscapes, fostering a sense of belonging. 

To realise this balance, Odyssey brought together an impressive network of local stakeholders and experts. Contributors ranged from fishers’ association representatives, marine specialists and NGOs to local tour guides, cultural groups and traditional clubs from all three areas supported by a wide circle of residents and local enterprises. Their combined knowledge, authenticity and local credibility helped ensure that the festival was not only enjoyable for visitors but also genuinely meaningful for the communities involved. 

THE OUTCOMES  

1. Visitor Engagement & Testimonials 

The festival welcomed about 100 participants, joined at moments by visitors already in the area for the Gidi ton Methanon annual mountain race. Odyssey collected detailed feedback and testimonials to refine the LALERI model and better understand how visitors perceive sustainable tourism experiences.  

Early insights show that participants were highly receptive to learning about environmental challenges when these were shared through food, storytelling, hands-on activities and direct interaction with local people.  

2. A Model for Tourism Professionals in the Region 

Building on this response, the Odyssey team aims to develop LALERI into a replicable conscious-tourism model that local businesses and tourism professionals can readily adapt. The long-term goal is to support tourism enterprises in bringing together economic value, cultural preservation and the protection of local ecosystems through experiences that inspire both visitors and residents to care for the region. 

For those who wish to explore the project in depth: 

You can read a detailed, first-person account of the festival by the organisers. 

You can also read our perspective, drawing on the Foundation’s participation in the festival.

*LALERI means: 

LA = ladi (olive oil) from Troizina 

LE = lemoni (lemon) from Poros 

RI = rigani (oregano) from Methana