Editing Aegean Sea (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Chora of Mykonos (9).jpg|thumb|Tourists in the town of [[Mykonos]], part of the Cyclades]]
The Aegean islands within the Aegean Sea are significant tourist destinations. Tourism to the Aegean islands contributes a significant portion of [[tourism in Greece]], especially since the second half of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bramwell |first=Bill |title=Coastal Mass Tourism: Diversification and Sustainable Development in Southern Europe |publisher=Channel View Publications |year=2004 |isbn=1845413733}}</ref> A total of five UNESCO [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage sites]] are located the Aegean Islands; these include the [[Monastery of Saint John the Theologian]] and the [[Cave of the Apocalypse]] on [[Patmos]],<ref>Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Historic Centre (Chorá) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Pátmos". ''whc.unesco.org''. Retrieved 8 September 2016.</ref> the [[Pythagoreion]] and [[Heraion of Samos]] in [[Samos]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/595/|title=Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=22 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722065336/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/595/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Nea Moni of Chios]],<ref>"Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios". UNESCO. Retrieved 30 September 2012.</ref> the island of [[Delos]],<ref>Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Delos". ''whc.unesco.org''. Retrieved 7 September 2016.</ref> and the [[Rhodes (city)|Medieval City of Rhodes.]]<ref>Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Medieval City of Rhodes". ''whc.unesco.org''. Retrieved 7 September 2016.</ref>

Greece is one of the [[World Tourism rankings#Europe|most visited countries]] in Europe and the world with over 33&nbsp;million visitors in 2018,<ref>[https://hellasjournal.com/2019/01/entyposiazoyn-ta-stoicheia-toy-ypoyrgeioy-toyrismoy-ta-esoda-xepernoyn-ta-21-dis-eyro/ "Tourism Ministry statistics impress".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422114729/https://hellasjournal.com/2019/01/entyposiazoyn-ta-stoicheia-toy-ypoyrgeioy-toyrismoy-ta-esoda-xepernoyn-ta-21-dis-eyro/ |date=22 April 2019 }} Retrieved 30 January 2019.</ref> and the tourism industry around a quarter of Greece's Gross Domestic Product.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketinggreece.com/blog/o-toyrismos-einai-ypothesi-olon-mas|title=Αλέξανδρος Βασιλικός: Ο τουρισμός είναι υπόθεση όλων μας|date=5 February 2019|website=Marketing Greece|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925165536/https://www.marketinggreece.com/blog/o-toyrismos-einai-ypothesi-olon-mas|url-status=live}}</ref> The islands of Santorini, Crete, Lesbos, Delos, and Mykonos are common tourist destinations. An estimated 2&nbsp;million tourists visit Santorini annually.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/28/santorini-popularity-soars-but-locals-say-it-has-hit-saturation-point|title=Santorini's popularity soars but locals say it has hit saturation point|last=Smith|first=Helena|date=28 August 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 June 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828161359/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/28/santorini-popularity-soars-but-locals-say-it-has-hit-saturation-point|url-status=live}}</ref> However, concerns relating to [[overtourism]] have arisen in recent years, such as issues of inadequate infrastructure and overcrowding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traveller.com.au/greece-tourism-numbers-europes-latest-victim-of-overtourism-h110v6|title=Overwhelmed: Greece the latest country to be overrun by tourists|last=Smith|first=Oliver|date=6 June 2018|website=Traveller|language=en-au|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094724/https://www.traveller.com.au/greece-tourism-numbers-europes-latest-victim-of-overtourism-h110v6|url-status=live}}</ref> Alongside Greece, Turkey has also been successful in developing resort areas and attracting large number of tourists,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gülcan |first1=Yaprak |last2=Kuştepeli |first2=Yeşim |last3=Akgüngör |first3=Sedef |title=Public Policies and Development of the Tourism Industry in the Aegean Region |journal=European Planning Studies |date=October 2009 |volume=17 |issue=10 |pages=1509–1523 |doi=10.1080/09654310903141722 |s2cid=154452680 }}</ref> contributing to [[tourism in Turkey]]. The phrase "[[Blue Cruise]]" refers to recreational voyages along the [[Turkish Riviera]], including across the Aegean.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/travel/02sailingbx.html|title=Where to Raise the Sails, or Just a Glass|last=Holliday|first=Taylor|date=2 July 2006|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 June 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106164506/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/travel/02sailingbx.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ancient city of [[Troy]], a World Heritage Site, is on the Turkish coast of the Aegean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/849/|title=Archaeological Site of Troy|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=8 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051208060954/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/849/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Greece and Turkey both take part in the [[Blue Flag beach]] certification programme of the [[Foundation for Environmental Education]]. The certification is awarded for beaches and [[marina]]s meeting strict quality standards including environmental protection, water quality, safety and services criteria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fee-international.org/en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815203855/http://www.fee-international.org/en|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2008|title=FEE – Foundation for Environmental Education|date=15 August 2008|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref> As of 2015, the Blue Flag has been awarded to 395 beaches and 9 marinas in Greece. Southern Aegean beaches on the Turkish coast include [[Muğla]], with 102 beaches awarded with the blue flag, along with [[İzmir]] and [[Aydın]], who have 49 and 30 beaches awarded respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goturkeytourism.com/things-to-do/blue-flag-beaches-in-turkey.html|title=Blue Flag Beaches in Turkey {{!}} Go Turkey Tourism|website=www.goturkeytourism.com|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627063039/https://www.goturkeytourism.com/things-to-do/blue-flag-beaches-in-turkey.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=W. |last2=Bellomo |first2=S. |last3=Brusca |first3=L. |last4=Kyriakopoulos |first4=K. |last5=Calabrese |first5=S. |last6=Daskalopoulou |first6=K. |title=The impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on groundwater quality in an active volcanic/geothermal system under semi-arid climatic conditions: The case study of Methana peninsula (Greece) |journal=Journal of Geochemical Exploration |date=April 2017 |volume=175 |pages=110–119 |doi=10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.01.003 |bibcode=2017JCExp.175..110D }}</ref>