Photo Credit: The traditional well on Maria Mavroudi’s family property in Astypalea. Kallichoron
Maria Mavroudi’s grandparents, from the Greek island of Astypalea, never wasted water. They collected rain in a sterna — a traditional cistern — to water their plants and to provide water for animals.
“Water scarcity is not a new issue for islands such as Astypalea. It has shaped island life and local practices for generations, long before climate change became part of the wider conversation,” said Mavroudi, now the co-founder and general manager of Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel.
Astypalea, also known as Astypalia, was one of seven Greek islands in the Aegean Sea to declare a drought emergency this year.
And it isn’t the only spot making that call. Extreme heat and little rainfall due to climate change has added further pressure on destinations across Europe, putting the tourism industry in direct conflict with local communities as it attempts to keep taps running, pools full, and gardens green.
Tourism accounted for 3.5% o