The problems with golf courses in Greece
The other day I had directed questions about the excessive water uses of golf courses to Tourism Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia. Well I was not expecting a reply, but your June 15 article by George Raounas, head of the KPMG consultancy services, was a reminder that the appropriate questions are not being asked at all levels. The article says that: «The main difficulties faced during the courses’ development were in securing permits (41.5 percent), delays due to weather conditions (35.4 percent), environmental concerns (27.7 percent), funding (27.7 percent) and the supply of water (24.6 percent).» These number tally up to 156.9 percent, which seems odd. Also what is not mentioned is the fact that maybe the difficulties behind «securing permits,» «weather conditions,» «environmental concerns,» and the «supply of water» are all based on the fact that the hot and arid climate of the Mediterranean makes golf courses not an ideal tourism ploy. I wonder if Mr George Raounas would be kind enough to respond to these concerns? NIKO MAKSIMYADIS, Rethymnon, Crete.
