Greece is keen to attract international investors to develop integrated resorts that would include hotels, self-catering apartments and holiday villages, as well as conference and sports facilities. Buildings would cover only a small percentage of these sites, located in under-developed areas of outstanding natural beauty. This would help stem internal migration by providing jobs for the local population.

Government investment incentives - consisting of direct subsidies and tax relief - are available for these projects. Rhodes and Corfu are excluded from the incentives package because they are already densely developed, but the Peloponnese and Crete offer several possible locations.

To qualify for government approval, integrated resorts are required to:

• Cover a minimum of 80 hectares.
• Provide at least 1,500 beds in four- and five-star accommodation.
• Be located within 90 minutes' drive of an international airport.
• Preferably include at least one 18-hole golf course, marina facilities, a conference centre, shopping facilities, and eco-tourism activities, such as scuba diving, hiking, riding and cycling in the surrounding area.

Foreign investors have been deterred from buying land for tourist development because of high prices and the absence of a land registry to establish ownership of titles. But the registry is now being compiled with the help of EU grants, while Greece complies with EU rules on permitting foreigners to own land.