With the completion of the “TUI Turtle Aid Greece” project, ARCHELON presents impressive results in nest protection, the hotel employees training and raising awareness among 66,000 tourists.

Can tourists and sea turtles share the same beach? The answer is YES, as long as there are rules, respect and cooperation. For decades, ARCHELON has been on the front lines of sea turtle conservation in Crete, with daily nest monitoring and awareness raising activities. ARCHELON's multifaceted action was highlighted with the successful completion of the “TUI Turtle Aid Greece” project (1/6/2023 – 31/5/2026), implemented with the support of the TUI Care Foundation. At a time when the coasts of northern Crete are under intense pressure from tourism and the effects of climate change, ARCHELON developed specific solutions that improve the situation in the nesting habitats with the cooperation of the tourism sector.

A partnership with deep roots

This effort did not start yesterday. The foundations were laid in the mid-1990s, thanks to Dr. Wolf Michael Iwand, then head of the Environment department at TUI. He was the first to believe that the future of tourism in Crete is linked to the survival of the Loggerhead sea turtle. He supported the first conservation projects in the area. The recent "TUI Turtle Aid Greece" project came to develop the efforts of previous years, bringing tangible results from Crete to Rhodes.

The first “turtle-friendly hotels” in Crete

One of the innovative steps of the project was the pilot implementation of the international “Turtle-Friendly Hotel” certification, designed by the TUI Care Foundation in collaboration with international bodies. ARCHELON, in collaboration with ECOCLUB, guided businesses in northern Crete to adopt simple but life-saving practices, such as collecting sun loungers at night so that turtles can find space to lay their eggs, and turning off or shading bright lights that disorient baby turtles. The first eight hotels to receive the official certification are:

• Aquila Rithymna Beach Hotel (Rethymno)
• Caldera Beach Hotel (Chania)
• Caldera Creta Paradise Resort (Chania)
• Euphoria Resort (Chania)
• Geraniotis Hotel & Resort (Platanias, Chania)
• Grecotel Caramel Resort (Rethymno)
• Grecotel Creta Palace Resort (Rethymno)
• Mike Hotels & Apartments (Chania)

The great accomplishments of the last three years

• Awareness raising in hotels in Crete: With more than 2,000 shifts and 4 events in collaboration with local Authorities, ARCHELON shared practical advice on the coexistence of tourism with the protection of sea turtles.
• New Information Station in Chania: With the creation of a new seasonal kiosk in the old port of Chania, ARCHELON came into direct contact with thousands of visitors every summer.
• Hands-on education on the beach: A total of 423 informative Sea Turtle Beach Walks were held on the nesting beaches, where participants had the opportunity to walk with our volunteers learning firsthand about the turtle's life cycle and the challenges it faces.
• Informing 66,000+ visitors: In total, ARCHELON volunteers managed to inform and raise awareness of 66,557 tourists, visitors and locals in northern Crete (Chania & Rethymno) about the importance of protecting the species throughout the project.
• Remarkable scientific discovery in Rhodes: ARCHELON carried out assessment visits and recorded 48 nests in Rhodes. Among them, an extremely rare Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest was identified, a finding of enormous importance for the Mediterranean that led to a new scientific publication.
• The journey of “Triton”: A sea turtle rescued and cared for at ARCHELON's Rescue Centre was released in November 2024 with a satellite transmitter funded through the project, so that we could follow the turtle’s journey. Within 5 months, the turtle traveled more than 2,800 kilometers, arriving near Alexandria, Egypt, a living testament to the success of the rehabilitation actions.

Despite the positive results, the threats continue. Are bolder measures needed?

ARCHELON's consistent efforts have brought significant results. The reduction in the number of nests that had been observed over the last two decades (in Rethymno by 46% and in Chania by 49%) seems to be showing signs of receding recently. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of volunteers and staff, 1,728 nests have been protected in northern Crete (Chania & Rethymno) in the last three years. However, as long as the threats continue, not only does ARCHELON's presence remain necessary, but more bold solutions are needed. Climate change now brings difficulties that cannot be solved by protecting the nests alone:

• The "narrowing" of the beach The sea level is rising, but because there are roads and walls built behind the beaches, the beach cannot retreat inland. Thus, the space becomes dangerously small for turtles and tourists.
• The overheating of the sand Due to high temperatures inside the nest, almost exclusively female turtles are born, threatening the future of the species.

“We wonder if it is time, as a country, to learn from the examples of other countries, such as the USA and Cyprus, and to dare more permanent solutions for Crete,” says Panagiota Theodorou, Coordinator of Legal and Institutional Issues at ARCHELON. These measures, for example, could be:

• Free natural zones Preservation of specific parts of the beaches without umbrellas, sunbeds and lights.
• Protection of sand dunes Preservation of sand dunes and natural vegetation, which constitute the natural “wall” against wave erosion.
• Building setback In future regeneration projects, new constructions should be built further back from the shore, allowing the coast to breathe.

The collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation to date leaves behind a valuable legacy and proves that the tourism world is ready to help. ARCHELON systematically continues its work on nesting beaches, reminding us that environmental protection does not only concern turtles, but also the very survival of Greek tourism.