The term is used to accentuate the ideological aspect of such a venture. The so called ‘slow movement‘ begun in Italy in 1989 by Carlo Petrini as ‘slow food’, a reaction to the opening of the first well-known fast food chain’s premises in a historical Roman square. This movement's active members, today numbering more than 100.000 in 132 countries promote the virtues of a tasty and healthy nutrition using healthy animals, fruits and vegetables, thus supporting local cultivations and biodiversity.
This concept has in recent years extended to other activities, with a common reaction to what is imposed by multi-national companies at all levels of daily life, whether this be in fashion or design or the best seller in the field of books, travel, and a host of others.
It is a reaction to the cut-throat striving of modern life that places the notion of speed on a pedestal. It is an attempt to bring back the pleasure of the moment rather than counting time through a constant race. To make things better instead of faster and to finally rediscover quality and forget about quantity.
The expression of this concept in travel is constantly gaining ground as a reaction to mass tourism that dictates an agenda of daily ‘musts’ as to what has to be seen on a visit to a place, where to have a meal and specific shops for one’s purchases. Whoever takes part in such organized tours goes back home tired, more than anything else, having lost the joy of travelling and with only an ephemeral and mistaken idea of the place they have been to.
The concept on the contrary of slow travel is quite the opposite. Less is more. It is not necessary to tick off everything on the list of ‘must be seen’s. It suggests a stay in one place of at least a week. As to ‘where’, that depends on each one’s finances and preferences. You may stay in a luxurious villa or a rented room or why not? camping. Slow travel is not a matter of privilege or money. It is a specific mental state. It is a stance in life: not being obliged to follow the crowd!
The suggestion is for the visitor to drink his/her coffee, tsipouro or eat in a restaurant like the locals do. This is how to get to know regional tastes. To shop from the same shops as they do, go to a local fête or cultural event. It is the best approach to the local culture. In this way one becomes part of the life of a place and not a mere observer passing through.
It is this concept Lefkada Slow Guide wants to promote. We believe that Lefkada has the possibilities to offer a good alternative to the thinking visitor as to where to have a good time. Lefkada was late at entering the trajectory of tourism development and this has worked at her favour, so that she is at least not disfigured with huge hotel complexes ruining the scenery and giving but a doubtful quality to tourism.
It is also our belief that Lefkada's professionals are capable and conscientious and are simply doing their job properly, without belonging to any 'movement'. It is however necessary that they should all be promoted and supported as this will also be a good way to get rid of all the inescapable grasping profiteers who have become damaging to everyone. We wish to enhance every good thing taking place in our area, regardless of whether it is advertised on our website or not.