Minister Theoharis Brings Rhodes on Board New Regional Tourism Council

Rhodes island. Photo Source: Visit Greece / K. Vergas

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis visited Rhodes this week to brief local sector professionals and authorities on the creation of a regional tourism council set to meet for the first time next month.

Theoharis and Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas met with Rhodes tourism professionals during their tour of the Dodecanese region to present ministry actions aimed at enhancing the tourism product as well as the scope of activities to be addressed by the regional tourism council.

Three priorities

Synergies and cooperation, quick reflexes that will ensure problems are addressed immediately and effectively, and long-term planning are the priorities of the council, which will meet every two months at the tourism ministry in Athens and will include the participation of 13 vice governors for tourism.

“We want tourism to shift from quality to sustainability and green development, and I see this happening in Rhodes,” said Theoharis.

South Aegean Governor George Hatzimarkos; Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis; Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas

The minister went on to note the importance of coordinated efforts, public and private sector collaboration, and partnerships that will produce results.

“We should not do things randomly or respond to external stimuli but instead have a strategy that responds to the new developments shaped by changes in the tourism industry, but also to climate change, which is impacting tourism trends,” said Theoharis.

Rhodes island, Greece

The ministry aims to kickstart its tourism strategy from Rhodes, said Konsolas, adding that it will focus on diversifying the tourism product and attracting large-scale investments.

Konsolas added that the ministry is moving ahead with a new tourism education model based on the “high goals we set for tourism, with new curricula and modern areas of specialization”, and announced the forthcoming introduction of a comprehensive draft bill that will cover changes to tourism education and training and the launch of the Rhodes Tourist Guide School.