Tourism Education Improvements Top Minister’s Corfu Agenda

Upgrading tourism education and enhancing curriculum topped the agenda of talks between Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki and Ionian Islands Region authorities this week.

During her visit to Corfu, Zacharaki signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the region and the Ionian University for the implementation of pilot projects as well as training or upskilling programs including seminars and workshops open to all tourism professionals and designed to address the challenges faced by the islands.

Zacharaki also discussed the possibility of creating an online platform to facilitate distance learning allowing more to participate. 

The minister also met with tourism industry stakeholders who briefed her on island developments and key issues. Leading the discussion were ways to cover lost ground in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Others topics included sustainable tourism development, modernizing the island’s tourism strategy, and the effective use of EU recovery funding aimed at creating a more resilient future.

Corfu, Old town. Photo Source: Visit Greece / M. Mitzithropoulos

Zacharaki also met with the island’s hotel employee union and presented the ministry’s subsidized training scheme for 20,000 seasonal employees or unemployed as well as a post-graduate program to be funded by the EU.

She also discussed the best possible utilization of EU recovery funds with the island’s mayors and concluded her visit with a tour of the Corfu Tour Guide School and the ministry’s vocational training institute.

While on Corfu, Zacharaki attended the opening of luxury Asian hospitality brand Banyan Tree Groups’ first flagship property in Europe, the Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa near the village of Benitses.