SETE Chief, Santorini Mayor Discuss Island Challenges

Ensuring that tourism to Santorini benefits both the local community and the national economy, as well as seeking ways to minimize the environmental impact of the massive tourist flows to the island, topped the agenda of talks between newly-elected Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) President Yiannis Retsos and Thera Mayor Nikos Zorzos.

Thera Mayor Nikos Zorzos and Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) President Yiannis Retsos.

The two men met in Santorini on Wednesday, together with representatives from local trade and tourism sector bodies and discussed the challenges posed by the ever growing tourism flows, the lacking infrastructure and human resources to cope with the crowds as well as with the consequences on local communities.

Zorzos called on SETE to support the creation of a destination management framework that will be an important step in making Santorini sustainable and competitive. Keeping an open channel of communication with the public on issues of tourism and providing continuous research, education and training for professionals in the field will lead to the quality upgrade of the Greek tourism product and strengthen its competitiveness.

Following the meeting, Retsos had the chance to visit the island’s archaeological sites, wineries as well as the Association Cooperatives of Theraic Products.