GOLFLAND is a new documentary that sets out to investigate this new type of tourism and recreational industry in Greece. Specifically, it looks into the attempts being made to upgrade tourism through a variety of speculations involving the creation of golf courses, hotels and housing, and includes the opposition to these projects by citizens and various "eco" organizations, while it also includes the opinions of various experts and other such officials.
The film-makers traveled to five areas of Greece in order to show, through the examination of a varied sample, the attempts that are being made to develop golf resorts in Greece. These areas are: Atalanti (pending approval), Volos (where opposition by local organizations seem to have brought the project to a halt), Cassandra in Chalkidiki (also halted after a decision by the High Administrative Court in Athens), Hersonissos in Crete (where a golf course was built with no extra dwellings– as is usually the case.), Pylos ( the first mammoth golfing development to be realized in Greece).
In order to ensure the reliability of the film a whole range of organizations and individuals were consulted, including ecologists, scientists (both for and against), the developers themselves and their representatives and political factors taken into consideration. Closely linked to the subject and keynotes to the film is an investigation into the objectives of "strategic investment" and the role of the state in the "fast-track"/omvest in Greece scheme.
The documentary is the product of research carried out by author and former academic, Nelly Psarrou, in association with few collaborators, all of whom freely offered their services to this project aimed at giving independent information not just to those involved locally but to the wider community. The main motive for this was the lack of public awareness of such vital and pressing issues – especially in the light of recent political and economic developments which have brought to the forefront the burning issue of the "exploitation of public property."
"Golfland?" is an independent production, depending entirely on voluntary, unpaid contributions and aimed at providing public information
Source - golfland
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