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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.<\/p>\n
For Gikas Gikas, mayor of Ios, the island\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIos is changing. We want this change to follow a plan and specific priorities,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cTourism development does not exist in isolation. It directly connects with residents\u2019 quality of life, environmental protection, road safety, the quality of public infrastructure and our ability to offer visitors a complete experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Infrastructure to safeguard Ios\u2019 future<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Environmental infrastructure sits at the heart of the municipality\u2019s development strategy.<\/p>\n One of the island\u2019s most significant projects involves upgrading Ios\u2019 wastewater treatment plant and constructing a tertiary treatment unit. The municipality tendered the project in 2023 with funding from Greece\u2019s Recovery Fund and a tender budget of \u20ac5.1966 million.<\/p>\n The new infrastructure will strengthen water-resource management and create the conditions for reusing treated wastewater for irrigation.<\/p>\n \u201cIn an island environment, proper water management and environmental protection are not simply technical issues. They are prerequisites for the future of the area,\u201d Gikas says.<\/p>\n The municipality is also constructing a sewage network in Mylopotas. The \u20ac5 million project, funded through the Antonis Tritsis programme, should enter operation in 2027.<\/p>\n The project includes the new sewage network, pumping stations and pipelines connecting wastewater to Ios\u2019 existing sewerage system and wastewater treatment facility.<\/p>\n \u201cMylopotas has particular importance for Ios\u2019 tourism identity, while demand rises significantly during the summer months,\u201d the mayor says. \u201cThe new sewage network addresses not only today\u2019s needs but also the demands of the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n Port and road upgrades<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The expansion and completion of Ios\u2019 port facilities also form a major part of the island\u2019s infrastructure programme.<\/p>\n The project has a tender budget of about \u20ac11.3 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.<\/p>\n \u201cFor an island, the port is the main gateway in and out,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cIt is the visitor\u2019s first point of contact with the destination, but it is also vital infrastructure for residents and economic activity.\u201d<\/p>\n Road improvements represent another key priority.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The completed upgrade of the Kakovolo-Spithara rural road, with a total budget of \u20ac2.23 million, improves access to southern Ios, particularly the Manganari area.<\/p>\n \u201cImproving the road network is not only about transportation,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cIt creates better conditions for visitors to discover more sides of Ios, particularly one of the Aegean\u2019s most spectacular areas.\u201d<\/p>\n The municipality\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAccessibility must concern everyone,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cThe quality of a destination ultimately depends on how easily and safely everyone can experience it.\u201d<\/p>\n Culture and sport broaden Ios\u2019 tourism identity<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Ios is also seeking to expand its tourism offering through culture.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gaitis-Simosi Museum is much more than a new cultural facility,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cIt adds an important element to Ios\u2019 identity and shows that the island can offer experiences beyond the traditional summer tourism model.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ios Festival plays a similar role. In 2026, the festival is holding its sixth edition, combining contemporary artistic creation with the island\u2019s landscape, history and stories. This year\u2019s programme features concerts, a photography exhibition, open-air film screenings and children\u2019s activities, with free admission.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want culture to become a living part of everyday life, rather than something confined to an enclosed space,\u201d Gikas says.<\/p>\n Sport is adding another dimension to the island\u2019s tourism offering.<\/p>\n The Ios Masters beach volleyball event, part of Greece\u2019s 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\u2019 potential as a destination for sports tourism.<\/p>\n New sports and social infrastructure<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The municipality has also secured funding for a new indoor sports hall. The project has moved towards implementation following the Interior Ministry\u2019s acceptance of the municipality\u2019s proposal and its proposed inclusion in Greece\u2019s Public Investment Programme.<\/p>\n The project carries total public expenditure of \u20ac1.862 million and includes a fully equipped indoor basketball court, spectator stands and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe new indoor sports hall was a longstanding demand of Ios\u2019 community,\u201d Gikas says. \u201cAbove all, it is an investment in the island\u2019s young people and residents. At the same time, it creates new opportunities to host games, training sessions and sporting events.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cA destination cannot have a future if it cannot support its permanent residents, particularly young families,\u201d Gikas says.<\/p>\n Building a more complete destination<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n For the mayor, the connection between infrastructure, social cohesion and tourism lies at the heart of Ios\u2019 development strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not view tourism as a separate sector disconnected from everything else,\u201d he says. \u201cVisitors 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Gikas believes Ios can broaden its image without abandoning the characteristics that made it famous.<\/p>\n \u201cIos 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,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n The municipality now wants visitors to experience more of the island through art, culture, sport, nature and outdoor activities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d Gikas says.<\/p>\n The mayor describes the projects already completed, those under construction and the newly secured funding as parts of a wider development plan.<\/p>\n \u201cEnvironmental 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,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe major challenge for every island today is to develop without losing its character. We want to invest in modern infrastructure, improve residents\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n