The Greek island of Ios is entering a new phase of development, strengthening essential infrastructure while seeking to build a more diverse and multidimensional identity as a tourist destination.
Internationally known for its youthful energy, beaches and vibrant summer nightlife, the Cycladic island is now also investing in environmental protection, modern port and road infrastructure, culture, sport and social services.
For Gikas Gikas, mayor of Ios, the island’s development cannot rely solely on increasing visitor numbers. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), he says the municipality directly links tourism growth with the quality of life of permanent residents, sustainable management of natural resources and infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of a modern island.
“Ios is changing. We want this change to follow a plan and specific priorities,” Gikas says. “Tourism development does not exist in isolation. It directly connects with residents’ quality of life, environmental protection, road safety, the quality of public infrastructure and our ability to offer visitors a complete experience.”
Infrastructure to safeguard Ios’ future
Environmental infrastructure sits at the heart of the municipality’s development strategy.
One of the island’s most significant projects involves upgrading Ios’ wastewater treatment plant and constructing a tertiary treatment unit. The municipality tendered the project in 2023 with funding from Greece’s Recovery Fund and a tender budget of €5.1966 million.
The new infrastructure will strengthen water-resource management and create the conditions for reusing treated wastewater for irrigation.
“In an island environment, proper water management and environmental protection are not simply technical issues. They are prerequisites for the future of the area,” Gikas says.
The municipality is also constructing a sewage network in Mylopotas. The €5 million project, funded through the Antonis Tritsis programme, should enter operation in 2027.
The project includes the new sewage network, pumping stations and pipelines connecting wastewater to Ios’ existing sewerage system and wastewater treatment facility.
“Mylopotas has particular importance for Ios’ tourism identity, while demand rises significantly during the summer months,” the mayor says. “The new sewage network addresses not only today’s needs but also the demands of the coming years.”
Port and road upgrades
The expansion and completion of Ios’ port facilities also form a major part of the island’s infrastructure programme.
The project has a tender budget of about €11.3 million and includes a new 183-metre berth frontage, additional stern-mooring positions for conventional passenger ferries and high-speed vessels, and more land space to improve port operations and vehicle circulation.
“For an island, the port is the main gateway in and out,” Gikas says. “It is the visitor’s first point of contact with the destination, but it is also vital infrastructure for residents and economic activity.”
Road improvements represent another key priority.
The completed upgrade of the Kakovolo-Spithara rural road, with a total budget of €2.23 million, improves access to southern Ios, particularly the Manganari area.
“Improving the road network is not only about transportation,” Gikas says. “It creates better conditions for visitors to discover more sides of Ios, particularly one of the Aegean’s most spectacular areas.”
The municipality’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan also prioritises accessibility and safety, including provisions for people with disabilities and people with mobility difficulties. It promotes walking, cycling, electric mobility and reduced environmental impacts from transportation.
“Accessibility must concern everyone,” Gikas says. “The quality of a destination ultimately depends on how easily and safely everyone can experience it.”
Culture and sport broaden Ios’ tourism identity
Ios is also seeking to expand its tourism offering through culture.
The Gaitis-Simosi Museum, which opened in September 2024, completed a nearly three-decade effort. The museum hosts exhibitions, cultural events, film screenings and educational programmes, creating a new cultural hub for the island.
“The Gaitis-Simosi Museum is much more than a new cultural facility,” Gikas says. “It adds an important element to Ios’ identity and shows that the island can offer experiences beyond the traditional summer tourism model.”
The Ios Festival plays a similar role. In 2026, the festival is holding its sixth edition, combining contemporary artistic creation with the island’s landscape, history and stories. This year’s programme features concerts, a photography exhibition, open-air film screenings and children’s activities, with free admission.
“We want culture to become a living part of everyday life, rather than something confined to an enclosed space,” Gikas says.
Sport is adding another dimension to the island’s tourism offering.
The Ios Masters beach volleyball event, part of Greece’s national beach volleyball circuit, took place at Mylopotas Beach in 2025 as a major event of the Greek National Championship. Such sporting events can attract visitors with different interests while strengthening Ios’ potential as a destination for sports tourism.
New sports and social infrastructure
The municipality has also secured funding for a new indoor sports hall. The project has moved towards implementation following the Interior Ministry’s acceptance of the municipality’s proposal and its proposed inclusion in Greece’s Public Investment Programme.
The project carries total public expenditure of €1.862 million and includes a fully equipped indoor basketball court, spectator stands and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
“The new indoor sports hall was a longstanding demand of Ios’ community,” Gikas says. “Above all, it is an investment in the island’s young people and residents. At the same time, it creates new opportunities to host games, training sessions and sporting events.”
The municipality also plans a new sports centre in the Kambos area. The facility forms part of a broader strategy to create modern, organised sporting infrastructure for residents while opening opportunities for sporting activities and events.
The municipality has also set in motion plans for a new nursery and childcare centre. The facility will strengthen early-childhood infrastructure and provide a modern environment for infants and young children while supporting families living on the island.
“A destination cannot have a future if it cannot support its permanent residents, particularly young families,” Gikas says.
Building a more complete destination
For the mayor, the connection between infrastructure, social cohesion and tourism lies at the heart of Ios’ development strategy.
“We do not view tourism as a separate sector disconnected from everything else,” he says. “Visitors use the port, roads and public spaces. They want a clean and protected environment, better organisation and more experiences. At the same time, those same facilities serve residents, professionals, students and families who live here permanently.”
Gikas believes Ios can broaden its image without abandoning the characteristics that made it famous.
“Ios has a strong personality. It has unique beaches, a distinctive Cycladic landscape, a vibrant Chora, significant history and people who know how to welcome visitors,” he says.
The municipality now wants visitors to experience more of the island through art, culture, sport, nature and outdoor activities.
“We want visitors to come for the beaches and entertainment, but also visit the Gaitis-Simosi Museum, attend a cultural festival, explore different parts of the island, watch a sporting event, take part in activities such as hiking, cycling and diving, and discover authentic life in Ios,” Gikas says.
The mayor describes the projects already completed, those under construction and the newly secured funding as parts of a wider development plan.
“Environmental protection, better water management, upgrading the port and road network, culture, sport, activities and social infrastructure form the model of Ios we want to build,” he says.
“The major challenge for every island today is to develop without losing its character. We want to invest in modern infrastructure, improve residents’ everyday lives, protect the environment and enrich the visitor experience. We want an Ios that remains vibrant, authentic and outward-looking, while becoming more modern, more functional and better prepared for the future.”
