Flying public transport as a response to mass tourism? A contribution to the debate on the development of Zakynthos with an urban cable car system

Abstract

The "Suburban Mobility Transition" series of articles examines potential development options in suburban areas near metropolises or tourist hotspots. This article examines the development of the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which was also named the "Capital of Overtourism" in 2025. It focuses on the vision of connect-ing the entire island via a cable car system, thereby significantly reducing current road-based traffic. To this end, a public transport inventory will be conducted. The cable car will then be presented as an infrastructural development option and comparatively evaluated based on various transport planning indicators. The aim of this article is to examine critically the futuristic option of sustainably improving the quality of connections, travel times, and the flow of routes between towns and cities, which could also represent a climate-effective measure against congestion and air pollution.