Minister Looks to Develop Tourism Strategy for Santorini

Aiming to draw up a tourism strategy for Santorini, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis recently held meetings on the popular Greek island with regional and local authorities and tourism professionals.

“Everyone wants Santorini, whose uniqueness has made it a global benchmark, a model destination within the country’s new tourism strategy which focuses on sustainable development,” the minister said in an announcement on Friday.

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis with South Aegean Regional Governor George Hatzimarkos (left).

According to Minister Theoharis, preserving the island’s unique landscape, tradition and production through coordinated actions is a key objective of that effort. For the goal to be achieved, according to the minister, everyone – the government, municipalities, tourism bodies, regional authorities, businessmen and employees – must coordinate in a joint effort.

Formed several thousand years ago by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, Santorini is one of Greece’s renowned and most popular destinations for holidays.

“Santorini is a unique tourism destination that we must safeguard and the contacts I had on the island are the first step in managing any open issues,” he said.

Santorini Mayor Antonis Sigalas and Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis.

While on Santorini, the minister’s agenda included talks with South Aegean Regional Governor George Hatzimarkos, Santorini Mayor Antonis Sigalas, Port Authority President Aggelos Roussos, Cyclades Hoteliers President Manolis Karamolegos and Tourist Accommodation Union President Lefteris Anapliotis.

Moreover, during his visit to Santorini, Minister Theoharis visited TUI’s cruise ship Mein Schiff Herz and the archaeological site of Akrotiri, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Aegean.

A European Parliament report on overtourism, released earlier this year, warned that if tourism flows continue to increase on Santorini, the island will suffer dire consequences.