Greece Promotes Western Macedonia as Top Wine Tourism Destination

Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki

Western Macedonia, its wineries and wines are spearheading a far-reaching tourism ministry campaign to establish Greece as a leading wine tourism destination, said Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki during the 2nd Western Macedonia Wine Tourism Conference held over the weekend.

Zacharaki said synergies would be key to the creation of wine tourism products that could go hand-in-hand with other special interest forms of tourism and contribute to the overall upgrade of the travel experience.

“Greek wine tourism is one of the most dynamically emerging forms of tourism, with continuous growth in recent years and with even stronger prospects for the future,” she said.

“It can be combined with other forms of alternative tourism to create a diversified, holistic and quality tourism experience,” she added, referring to the significant tourism potential of the Western Macedonia region. 

Zacharaki went on to note that the development of wine tourism in the region would contribute to Western Macedonia’s transition to a new era of sustainable growth.

The three-day conference, which followed a similar event held on  Santorini in July, was organized by the Greek tourism ministry, the Greek National tourism Organization (GNTO) and the Western Macedonia Region and included roundtables on the “Vineyard and Wine in the Service of Tourism”, “Main and Complementary Actions of the Wine Tourism Product of Western Macedonia”, as well as discussions with vineyard owners already active in wine tourism services.