The Region



The Dodecanese

The Dodecanese extends over an area of 2.714 square kilometres and is home to 190.770 people. Named by order of size, the islands constituting this insular complex are: Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos, Astypalaea, Kalymnos, Kasos, Tilos, Symi, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Halki, Lipsi, Megisti (aka Kastelorizo) and Agathonisi. Further to these islands, there is a multitude of islets, the most important of which being Pserimos, Levitha, Alimiá, Arkoi, Saría, Telendos, Kinaros, Ofi ousa, Syrna, Armathia, Farmakonisi, Kounoupoi, Nimos, Ro, Astakida, Sesklio. Rhodes, the largest of all the Dodecanese islands and fourth in order of size amongst all Greek islands, after Crete, Euboea and Mytilene (aka Lesvos), proudly hosts the capital city of the complex, and has become the most important hub of organized tourism activities in the country.

The Cyclades

The Cyclades complex extends over an area of 2.572 square kilometres, with a population of 117.840. Listed by order of size, these are the main Cycladic islands: Naxos, Andros, Paros, Tinos, Milos, Kea, Amorgos, Ios, Kythnos, Mykonos, Syros, Santorin (aka Thira), Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Anafi , Kimolos, Antiparos, Folegandros, Iraklia, Therasia, Schinousa and Koufonisia, followed by several other smaller and bigger islets, like Makronisos, Gyaros, Despotiko, Delos, Polyaegos, Karos, Renea, Donousa, Annanes, Falkonea, Anydros, Strongylo, Tragonisi, Seriphopoulo, Karavi, Palaea and Nea Kammeni Syros is the capital island of the Region of South Aegean, having evolved into a hub of city-break style tourism after a bright presence as an important centre for shipping, industry and culture in the once fl edgling Hellenic State.

Main Domains of Professional Activities in the Region of South Aegean
Tourism

Tourism is by far the most dynamic sector in the array of opportunities for economic development in the Region of South Aegean, hence the leading position of this region in Greek tourism. Typical of the dynamism of the sector is the fact that for 2015, the Region of South Aegean accounted for 2076 accommodation facilities – 21% of the overall national capacity – translating in 195.648 beds (24.9% of the overall national capacity). Thirty-one point seven percent (31.7%) of the total number of hotel facilities, 29.2% of the total number of rooms and no less than 29.7% of the total number of beds available at 5-star Hotels in Greece are indeed to be found within the Region of South Aegean (as per data supplied by the Hellenic Chamber of Hoteliers on 31.12.2015).

Fishing

The Region of South Aegean is one of the 3 Hellenic Regions to have been formally classifi ed as Regions Depending on Fishing; there are 11 Regions in Europe to have in total been classifi ed as such. No wonder, therefore, that this is considered to be a crucial sector for the economy of the Region, all the more since fi shing is greatly contributing to the preservation of the economic and social tissue within insular communities whilst helping maintain a base of production, especially on islands where possibilities for tourist or agricultural development remain limited. As estimated by the Fisheries Service departments around the Region of South Aegean, there are some 4700 people currently active in the sector of professional fi shing, yielding an overall production of 6000 tons in catches. Out of such volume, more than 400 tons account for Swordfi sh, 280 for Long-Finned Tuna and about 120 tons for Bluefi n Tuna, all such quantities being almost entirely exported. A considerable proportion of population on the islands of Amorgos, Kythnos, Milos, Paros, Iraklia, Schinousa, Kalymnos, Kasos, Karpathos, Kos and Lipsi are professionally active in fi shing-related activities that most of the times also constitute a family trend from one generation to the next.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a traditional sector of economic activity throughout the Region of South Aegean. The highest concentration of farming activities may be found on the more sizeable islands of the Region, namely Rhodes, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Kos, Andros and Tinos. When it comes to specifi c domains in farming, the highest interest for the Region of South Aegean is placed on wine-producing grapes, citrus and most and above all, olive groves. In terms of tonnage, the yearly production volumes for the Region of South Aegean (source: General Direction of Regional Agricultural Economy and Animal Health, 2015) were:

  • Olive oil: 3.433 tons
  • Grapes: 6.000 tons
  • White and Red Wine: 3.440 tons (the greatest part of wines produced in the Region are PDO or PGI certified)
  • Citrus Fruit: over 11.000 tons produced
 
bottle
3433

tons Olive Oil

grapes2
6000

tons Grapes

bottlewine
3440

tons White & Red Wine

lemon
11000

tons Citrus Fruit

 

Animal Husbandry

Livestock breeding fares fi rst amongst the various domains of economic activity in the primary sector, its role being all the more pronounced in the Cyclades. The most important areas for animal husbandry are in Amorgos, Andros, Kythnos, Naxos, Tinos, Kasos, Karpathos and Kos, the highest interest being placed on ovine and caprine breeding, swine raising and cattle breeding. Dairy production is also quite important.
In terms of tonnage, the yearly production volumes for the Region of South Aegean (source: General Direction of Regional Agricultural Economy and Animal Health, 2015) were:

  • Ovine and Caprine: 69.778 carcasses
  • Swine: 5.276 carcasses
  • Cattle: 4.370 carcasses
  • Poultry: 64,8 tons of meat
  • Eggs: 38.325 000 units

sheep
69778

Ovine & Caprine carcasses

pig
5276

Swine carcasses

cow
4370

Cattle carcasses

chicken
68

Poultry tons of meat

eggs
38325000

Eggs units



Apiculture

Apiculture is yet another important domain of activity for the Region of South Aegean. There were 96.211 beehives registered in 2015 and 1.088 tons of honey produced (source: General Direction of Regional Agricultural Economy and Animal Health).

bee
96221

Beehives

honey
1088

tons of Honey