I found this paper to be a very interesting take on Hydra Island’s sustainability. This research paper talks about the key points Hydra still struggles with within its overall sustainability efforts. It was surprising to me that an island like Hydra which is much more sustainable than other places, is still looking for ways to improve. The writer states his main goal is to not offer solutions but to strike up a discussion on the topic in an effort to potentially promote action within the island community. The writer consistently emphasizes the importance of research in order to get a better hand at the problems Hydra faces.

One thing that surprised me in the article was the water ordeal. The scarcity of water is both an international and local problem for Hydra. The main source of water from Hydra comes from the water boat, transporting water over from the mainland. This is so different compared to living in the United States, where we have such easy access to water. I never really paid much attention to the amount of water I use, but when thinking about it now it definitely seems like a lot.

Despite some problems Hydra faces, Hydra remains a beautiful Greek island that is known for not having any cars, besides two garbage trucks. Locals and tourists either get around by water taxi, walking, mules, or donkeys. There are no huge hotels, no airport, and the bars and restaurants are typically family-owned by local people. Walking around Hydra, it is easy to sense the relaxed, peaceful, and laid-back environment that reels people in. With that being said, tourism is the main driving economic income for this island.

Before coming to Hydra and even Greece alone, I never realized just how much their economy is reliant on tourism. During the seasons of April to even the end of October, the high volume of tourists visiting provides a significant factor in the country’s economic growth. One key point I found to be important within the article was the two different opposing sides when asked about the future of Hydra. One side feels the island should focus highly on infrastructure and development in order to bring in more visitors for the island, making it more competitive with the other islands, like Mykonos. The opposing side mainly consists of resident foreigners who are more concerned about the environmental aspect and how this might affect their holiday homes and the lifestyle they are used to with the current state of Hydra. I believe finding the balance between these two arguments is key because I see where both of them are coming from.