This website has been funded by the membership of the Friends of the Ionian.

It is the support of the Friends and their concern for the future of this area of Greece that has prompted the development of our publications.

FoI was set up as part of the European Year of Tourism in 1990 with the aim of redirecting tourism development in Greece's Ionian Islands along less destructive lines. FoI is a not-for profit organisation.

The aim is to ensure that tourists have access, not only to the nearest beach, but also to the region's special environment and culture.

It is hoped that an interest in local culture will also encourage local people to see tourists in another light, not as walking Drachmas or drunkards, but as visitors who care about their local way of life and the landscape in which they have farmed and lived.

To these ends, FoI has been involved in pioneering a number of approaches to what we call sustainable tourism, one which safeguards environment and culture for the future.

Over the past 9 years, FoI has produced a series of Self-guided trails, At a Glance Guides, walking booklets, wildlife booklets and other publications Talking Turtle (a guide to the Loggerhead sea turtles of the Ionian) and the Tassos Times (a magazine guide, helping children to 'get into Greece').

The Friends have also organised programmes of beach cleans, visiting wildlife guides and various cultural activities. FoI is funded and assisted by a private membership, through sales of its publications and by several tour operators to the region.

Over the past ten years FoI has performed the following services for the promotion of heritage and wildlife in the Ionian islands of Greece:

• Services over 7,000 written inquiries from couples and families about Greece annually.
• Has produced 30 self-guided trails communicating history and culture.
• Distributes information to all inquiries for the Ionian.
• Has published eight wildlife booklets for the Ionian on everything from marine life to insects.
• Has publised At a Glance Guides for the islands of Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas, Ithaca, Kefalonia & Zakynthos.
• Has publised interpretive maps for Corfu , Kefalonia & Zakynthos.
• Publishes regular newsletters throughout the year to its UK membership about the Ionian.
• Has produced two documentary videos, one of which was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award.
• Raises funds for local Greek causes: In 1996, FoI raised funds for the Folk Museum in Gaios, Paxos, and the Venetian fort in Assos, Kefalonia.
• Has received project funds from two EU projects for developing sustainable tourism.
• Has received two international commendations for the development of sustainable tourism.
• Works with 20 UK tour operators to the Ionian to publise the culture and heritage of the region.
• Organises programmes of wildlife walks in conjunction with British-based Tour Operators.
• Organises small programmes of cultural activities.
• FoI is independent of any tour operator or interest group, helping to develop links between local communities, tour operators and their clients. please add the following photos to the following section