Ioannis SPILANIS is economist, graduate of the University of Athens (1979). After postgraduate studies in “European and International Studies”, he obtained a PhD on “Tourism and regional development. The Greek case” in 1985 at the University of Grenoble (France). He worked at the Ministry of the Aegean as expert in regional development (1987-1990).

He is Professor in the Department of Environment of the Aegean University and also teaches in the Master Programs “Planning, Management and Tourism Policy” and “Islands”.

His research interests are in sustainable development issues focused on islands’ development and tourism planning. As director of the Laboratory of Local and Insular Development, he was recently responsible for various studies as “European Islands and Cohesion Policy” (EU/ESPON), «Towards an Observatory and a Quality label of tourism sustainability in the Mediterranean» (UNEP / MAP / Plan Bleu), the “Atlas of Greek Islands”, “Insularity and Development Paths through funding opportunities” and “Strategic Planning for sustainable tourism in Ionian Islands”. In his capacity of director of the Aegean Sustainable Tourism Observatory, is taking part at the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories and the Measuring Sustainable Tourism initiative of UNWTO.

He was General Secretary of Aegean and Island Policy at the Ministry of Marine and Aegean during July 2012 – July 2013 and regional councilor at Vorio Aigaio Region during 2014-2023.