Rodos to Create Ecomuseum

The creation of an Ecomuseum (a museum without walls with natural habitats appearing as exhibition halls) on Rodos as an addition to the island’s tourism product was the main topic discussed recently at the first local conference on the island.

During the conference it was stressed that ecotourism can be developed on Rodos with the exploitation of the existing natural environment.

Based on this, local authorities supported the proposal for the establishment of the nature park Ecomuseum Rodos.

The ecomuseum aims to revive local culture, focus on the symbiotic relationship between man and nature and offer community exchange and relations.

This initiative is planned to cover the central-eastern part of the island that comprise the villages of Malona, Masari, Laerma, Agios Isidoros, Embona, Apollo, Platania, Eleousa, Archipolis, Salakos and Dimilia.

Brigitta Papastavrou, chairman and managing director of Agrotouristiki, underlined that it is top priority to create an organization -consisting of local authorities of Rodos and Agrotouristiki- that will undertake the establishment of the project.

In addition to the proposals for alternative forms of tourism for the balanced growth of the Rodos villages, the possibilities for the development of religious tourism on the island was also discussed.

The first local conference of Rodos was aimed at the development of specific actions for rural tourism and mild alternative forms of tourism within the framework of sustainable development.

The conference was held under the auspices of the Dodekanissos Prefecture and the Dodekanissos Local Union of Communities and Municipalities and organized by the Dodekanissos Tourism Organization.