In a letter addressed to Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, ‘Mamma Mia!’ film director Phyllida Lloyd expressed her strong opposition to the plans for Greek coastal area development and privatization.

Ms. Lloyd expressed her admiration for the country’s natural beauty, and noted that Greece is among the last destinations in the world which remain unspoiled by commercial tourism.

“Greece has given the biggest gift to cinema-goers worldwide: Greek island landscapes of incomparable beauty,” she underlined, adding that it is inconceivable to all the people associated with the movie ‘Mama Mia!’ – which was filmed on the northern Aegean islands of Skopelos and Skiathos – to think that the amazingly beautiful Greek coasts “will be auctioned off” in such a way.

“The whole world sees Greece as one of the last unspoiled destinations”, Ms. Lloyd stressed, adding that the island landscapes in combination with the archaeological treasures across the country, are the reasons why Greece can be called “heaven on earth”.

Phyllida Lloyd also noted that the movie was filmed in Greece because of this natural beauty and that, once the thin line is crossed and Greece’s coasts are occupied by hotels and other facilities, there will be no return.

“We all know that the catastrophic economic crisis has a negative effect on Greece,” she underlines, noting however that if the country’s unique contribution to the world cultural heritage is commercialized, the profits will be short-term but the disaster caused will be long-term, both for the country’s future and the entire world.

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