kefalonia to introduce strict planning laws

STRICT planning laws are being introduced in Kefalonia to prevent the island becoming over developed following the success of the film Captain Correlli’s Mandolin.

Awareness of the island has increased dramatically since May when the film was released in the UK, with visitor numbers from Britain rising 15%.

“There’s no doubt that we have much to thank for the book and film of Captain Correlli’s Mandolin,” said Spiros Galiatsatos, president of the Kefalonia and Ithaka Hotel Association. “It has been very positive.”

But he said the Greek government and tourism chiefs were worried that the island might become too crowded and over developed unless it took action.

“We don’t want the island to be spoiled. We want to protect the quality of life for our people and also for our visitors,” he said. “The development needs to be tightly controlled.”

From January, no hotels will be allowed to be built less than 100 metres from the sea and must be no more than eight metres or three storeys high.

In a bid to attract upscale investment in the island, the Government is offering 20% grants to companies developing four or five-star hotels.

It is also giving 40% grants to owners of self-catering accommodation to encourage them to upgrade their properties.

Around £2.7 million is being invested in the island’s roads in the next year as part of a £10 million investment over the next five years.

Environmental issues remain a priority and 2002 will see the development of a new Museum of Natural History and the continued protection of the turtle nesting beaches and the wild horses on Mount Aenos.