The Municipality of Ios and the AMKE “Ios Adventure” are attempting to highlight the less visible side of Ios , with the aim of enriching the tourist product and attracting visitors outside the peak months of July and August.
For decades, the island has been internationally identified with beaches and vibrant nightlife. Behind this image, however, lies a different island: ancient monuments, trails, rural landscapes, local traditions and narratives passed down from generation to generation.
“Our vision is not to change Ios’ identity nor to reject the tourism model that made it famous. It is to add a second, deeper level of experience,” explains the founder of “Ios Adventure”, George Dimitropoulos .
The island’s hiking network holds a central place in the effort, where signage, maintenance and promotion work is being carried out, in collaboration with the Municipality of Ietas and the Green Fund . The routes connect Chora with the prehistoric settlement of Skarkos and the hinterland, leading to areas such as Mylopotas, Klima, Agia Theodoti, Psathi and Profitis Ilias.
Hiking is seen not just as a physical activity, but as a way of getting to know the natural and cultural landscape . Along the way, the visitor encounters churches, monuments and points connected to the history and daily life of the inhabitants.
Three points act as the pinnacle of this different experience: Paleokastro on the eastern side of the island, the Tomb of Homer and the area of Skarkos and Kampos.
Especially at the Tomb of Homer, the effort is not limited to the promotion of the monument. Through research, informative signage and special publications, the tradition that connects Ios with the ancient poet is presented, as well as the sources and travelers who mentioned the tomb in the past. “We are not just looking for new sights. We are creating new ways for one to read the place itself ,” notes Mr. Dimitropoulos.
At the same time, testimonies of residents, farmers, breeders, fishermen and professionals are being recorded, with the aim of creating a digital “Historiogram of Ios” . The history and landscape of the island have already been captured in the publications “Discovering Ios Through its Footpaths” and “Island of Echoes – A Journey Through History, Maps and Traditions of Ios” , which connect hiking trails with monuments, old maps, traveler’s tales and local traditions.
Particular emphasis is placed on intangible cultural heritage . Customs such as Bales, Kunies, loukoumades and the custom of fishermen are being recorded and documented, with the prospect of their inclusion in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Index . At the same time, a documentary is being produced on the way in which tourism transformed the economy, work, landscape and social life of Ios.
The aim, as emphasized, is not for Ios to abandon the image it already has, but to acquire more strong identities . The visitor can still arrive for the beaches and entertainment, while at the same time discovering reasons to return for the trails, history, gastronomy and nature.
The big bet is for these experiences to boost visitor numbers in spring and autumn , turning April, May, September and October into active months for the island.
