Cruise, Yachting, Diving Top Greece Regional Tourism Meeting

Cruise travel, yachting, and diving topped the agenda of the 1st Inter-Regional Forum held this week which focused on the development of marine tourism.

Regional authorities from the Macedonia and Thrace region and mainland Greece, participated in the event organized by Greece’s Regional Tourism Council. 

“Our goal is to formulate a comprehensive action plan for the release of forces and the best possible utilization of alternative forms of tourism which have remained neglected,” said Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis, adding that marine tourism was a top priority in the government’s overall strategy “which focuses on the safe opening of Greek tourism in 2021”.

Underlining the importance of tourism infrastructure investments, Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki said these contributed to “the accessibility of Greek coasts while systematically strengthening new, alternative forms of maritime and coastal tourism”. 

“Despite the adversity, our country has the opportunity in the field of maritime and coastal tourism to turn the crisis into an opportunity,” she said, adding that the ministry was already preparing a new strategy for the development of marine tourism in the post-Covid-19 era. 

Photo © GTP

Zacharaki stressed that the goal is tapping into “the many possibilities and experiences that the Greek sea can offer” in a sustainable and secure manner.

On her part, Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development, Vicky Loizou presented the government’s plan for the upgrade and development of ports, underling the importance of improving the quality of services offered and the development of marine tourism. To achieve this, Loizou said it was vital to revise the institutional framework and the management model which will contribute to attracting investments and higher spending visitors.