2. METHODOLOGY
2.1. Study Design
We used a personal interview survey scheme with a structured questionnaire (Table I). The
survey focused on the total number of individuals running small enterprises (motels, bed and
breakfast units, restaurants, gift shops and leisure activities) in the vicinity of protected nature
areas. The areas of interest were the Kerkini and Prespes areas in northern Greece and the areas of Ampelakia, Agios Panteleymonas and Tavropos in central Greece. The questionnaire
addressed the following main subjects of interest, the:
● Knowledge of the current environmental status of the system they inhabit.
● Degree of non-formal environmental education that is passed on to visitors from the
research participants.
● Status of professional support in the area, in particular environmental-oriented practices
and willingness to collaborate given incentives.
● Basic demographic information including experience, educational and financial profiles.