Industrial pollution, spatial stigma and economic decline: The case of Asopos river basin through the lens of small business owners

This paper explores the notion of environmentally-induced spatial stigma through an analysis of data from interviews across public attitudes to pollution within the Asopos river basin in central Greece. The study focuses on the perceptions and beliefs of a sector of the community likely to be directly and negatively affected by stigma, that is small business owners in the tourism and hospitality sector. The qualitative analysis explores awareness and viewpoints on environmental degradation and water quality within the local context, implications on the local economy and the individual’s own enterprise, views on industrial environmental management as well as corporate responsibility and future prospects on the environmental problem of Asopos. Findings reveal a noticeable variation in views on industrial pollution and ecosystem deterioration among the respondents but overall a strong environmentally-induced stigmatization of the area.