Decentralized Administration of the Aegean

The Aegean islands represent Greece's tourism monoculture at its most extreme—tourism accounts for 97.1% of regional GDP across the 50 inhabited islands of the South Aegean and the smaller North Aegean. Seven million international visitors arrive annually, representing 40% of Greece's total, with Rhodes recording 2.6 million international air arrivals in 2023 alone. Mykonos and Santorini command premium prices that have transformed fishing villages into luxury destinations. The economic model is fragile: 43 heatwave days in 2024 stressed both tourists and infrastructure, while overcrowding has begun degrading the experience that drew visitors initially. Sustainability initiatives offer partial answers—Tilos aims for energy self-sufficiency, Halki develops low-impact tourism, and Rhodes hosts the TUI Care Foundation's Co-Lab innovation hub. Yet 95% of renewable energy projects are owned by large investors, meaning sustainability benefits flow outward rather than enriching islanders. The North Aegean islands (Lesbos, Chios, Samos) face the additional pressure of migration flows from Turkey, creating infrastructure burdens that tourism revenue doesn't address. Seasonal employment patterns leave populations underemployed from October through March. By 2026, the Aegean's trajectory depends on whether climate adaptation prevents heat-driven tourism decline, whether sustainability initiatives prove more than marketing, and whether the islands can capture more value from the visitors who already arrive.