Greek Church Assists Religious Tourism Development

Two postgraduate study programs on religious tourism are to operate through partnerships of three Greek universities and the Church of Greece, according to a framework agreement signed recently at an assembly hosted at the Holy Monastery of Penteli.

The framework agreement was signed between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Theology Department, the Technological Educational Institute of Athens’ Tourism Management Department, the Open University of Cyprus and the Center for Inter-Orthodox Church of Greece’s Holy Synod.

Also, during the assembly a permanent forum for religious tourism was announced.

According to Professor Perikles Lytras, deputy chairman of the Tourism Business Administration Department of the TEI, the initiative aims to create a meeting place for academic and business agencies involved in religious tourism and therefore establish an electronic platform where the public could submit views and suggestions on the matter.

In addition, the establishment of an international forum for religious tourism was also announced at a recent international cultural and tourism symposium on Greek-Turkish Cooperation held in Athens by non-governmental organization Aegean Polis.

The forum was aimed to promote religious tourism development and create global partnerships within the sector.