The Samaria National Park is an especially popular and world-famous tourist destination. As a protected area of special natural beauty, it attracts thousands of visitors during each tourist season, and visitor numbers are closely watched by the local tourist industry. Visitor traffic at the Samaria Park was the subject of a recent study by the Tourism Monitoring Unit of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH), in cooperation with the Technical University of Crete, the Chania Forestry Directorate and the management body of the Samaria National Park.

Research carried out over the years has shown that the Samaria National Park is a significant focus of attraction for visitors and contributes to the touristic and economic development of the wider area. The current phase of research was carried out in collaboration with the Cretan Regional Authority and is based on recent data collected during the 2022 tourist season. It aims to give an overall picture of visitor traffic at the Samaria National Park in the post-Covid period, with visitor profiles and measures of their satisfaction.

Visitor traffic at the Samaria National Park

The Samaria National Park is officially open from May to October. In the years up to 2019 it had witnessed a continually rising trend in visitor traffic. During the period of the pandemic there was a substantial falling-off of traffic because of the much-reduced opening period and also because of the climate, which affected tourism in the Nomos of Chania generally. The total number of visitors in 2020 was 56,287, the lowest since 1981, however in 2021 it increased to 94,985 and last year saw an explosive increase in the number of visitors, which at 169,593 was a record for the past 16 years.

Visitor profiles

The ratio of male to female visitors to the park, on a sampling basis, is almost 50-50. As regards their educational level, it appears that 6 out of 10 have completed further education courses. Analytically, 29.9 per cent are university graduates, with a further 30.8 per cent having postgraduate or doctoral qualifications. The majority of visitors are aged between 20 and 50, with 6 out of 10 belonging to this age group.

Two out of 10 visitors have an annual income below €10,000. Around 62 per cent have an annual income between €10,000 and €45,000, while 18.5 per cent have an income over €45,000.

Most of the visitors were already informed about Samaria before their journey to Crete. Information was obtained mostly from the internet (51.1 per cent), with 40.1 per cent receiving it from friends and family who had previously visited the area. However, 58.3 per cent were unaware that the Samaria Gorge has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, although 53.9 per cent knew about the protected species in the park.

The bus remains the most popular means of getting to Samaria, with 42.1 per cent arriving in tourist buses and another 20.6 per cent via KTEL. Of the tourists arriving in 2022, 67.3 per cent were visiting Samaria for the first time, the remainder having visited the park in the past.

Analysis of the data showed that 21.8 per of visitors were greatly or decisively influenced by the existence of the Samaria National Park in their decision to choose Crete for their holidays. This shows once again that the Park constitutes an important asset for the Cretan economy,

Admission prices

In the hypothetical case of an increase in the price of admission, most visitors said that they would come again if they had to pay from €2 to €10 extra (the current price of admission is €5). More specifically, 84.9 per cent would visit again if they had to pay €2 extra, 55.7 per cent would pay €5 extra and 20.8 per cent would pay €10 extra. Finally 15.1 per cent said that they would not visit Samaria if the price was increased, whatever the amount.

Visitor satisfaction

The Samaria Gorge received positive feedback on almost all measures of visitor satisfaction, people being clearly satisfied by their visit.

Visitor satisfaction scores at the Samaria Gorge in 2022

Top marks were given to the scenery, local businesses in the wider area, the service given by park employees, and the rest areas along the route. High marks were also given for the various facilities inside and outside the Gorge, the advice given by guides, the system for collecting recyclable waste along the length of the path, signage, safety, information provided about the park and the time allowed within the park.

The lowest marks (3.22 out of 5) were given for the cost of getting to and from the Gorge. Visitor satisfaction here was low because while the €5 admission fee is modest, the cost of travel by bus, by boat from Agia Roumeli, etc adds significantly to the expense of a trip.

The majority of visitors said that they would recommend a visit to the national park to family and friends, but it also transpired that a proportion of the visitors were inspired to make other hiking expeditions within the main part of the park or in the surrounding mountains.

The visitors also appeared inclined to have a meal in a local taverna, while there was also interest for overnighting in the area, with 3.73 out of 5 favouring this option.

The overall satisfaction rating by visitors was 4.23 out of 5.

Conclusions

The tourist season of 2022 was a special one for Crete, since there was an explosion of visitors to the island after the period of the pandemic. The effects were inevitably felt by the Samaria National Park, where the number of visitors was a record for the past 16 years.

Once more last year the visitors seem to have had an excellent experience, and the fact that they are inclined to recommend it to friends and family as a holiday destination is indicative of the area’s potential for further touristic and economic development. Their inclination to stay overnight and to consume local products in the area’s restaurants promises to bring multiple benefits for the local economy. The willingness of visitors to stay in the wider area and to try out different mountain excursions, both inside and outside the park, is an indicator of the area’s appeal.

It is clear that in addition to its major environmental value the park also has considerable economic value. The record number of visitors experienced since the lifting of pandemic restrictions, together with the satisfaction they have expressed with their visit and with the conditions and services they encountered, shows clearly that Samaria is a permanent focus of attraction which benefits the local area as well as Chania and the whole of Crete.

(Haniotika Nea, 31/01/23)