The changing face of Skiathos

There are some interesting discussions around about how Skíathos has changed over the years, maybe how it's got busier, maybe how people are concerned with how it's going.

Thought I'd open a thread for comment and discussion on these points.

I don't think the island can stand still. It has to respond to changing times, changing visitors, changing numbers, and do on.

I'm always slightly suspicious about references to 'authenticity'. A truly 'authentic' Skíathos would have no tourists, or so few that it was just you and a few others, so few that you never crossed paths.

Ain't going to happen, hasn't been like that since the '50s, so let's not pretend any of us can remember it like that. All of us have only ever known it as a tourist island, with facilities for tourists.

I wonder, how many of us have eaten at a Taverna which was built to cater for locals only, not tourists. The Skíathian equivalent of your local restaurant at home serving British cuisine for Brits.

Now these facilities have changed and developed. Their number has grown. That's an issue.

But can Skiathos continue to handle the change and remain the Skíathos we all love. That's the challenge.

I suspect the local municipal authorities will have much to do with any solution.