Greece’s New Tourism Drive to Focus on Sustainability  

Photo source: Polygreen eco.

Greece’s new tourism campaign will focus on sustainability, environmental protection, green entrepreneurship and the blue economy, said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias during the “Circle the Med Forum 2022” event held recently in Athens.

Kikilias said Greece was taking actions to accelerate the transition to sustainable tourism in view of research findings indicating a demand by travelers worldwide for sustainable tourism products and practices.

Among others, the Greek tourism minister referred to the ministry’s partnership with Google for the training of more than 2,000 hoteliers and the launch of a special education program for small and medium-sized enterprises in collaboration with the GST Council, as well as a memorandum of cooperation with the Common Seas group for the reduction of single use plastics by hotels through the PlasTICK program.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias. Photo source: Ministry of Tourism.

In the same direction of sustainability, Kikilias also referred to groundbreaking initiatives such as the “Rhodes Co-Lab”, “ASTYBUS” on Astypalea, “Just Go Zero” on Tilos, “GR-eco Islands” on Chalki, the “Aegean Neorion Innovation Center” on Syros and the “Naxos Smart Island”.

Speaking during the same event, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) President Angela Gerekou said actions were also being taken to enhance the Greek tourism product through circular economy initiatives that will link local production with the tourist product with returns for local communities.

GNTO President Angela Gerekou. Photo source: Visit Greece.

“The circular economy in tourism does not only concern plastic free and zero waste, but about the entire production value chain of the hospitality economy and associated services and products,” said Gerekou. She added that it was now vital that a sustainable model redefine tourism as we knew it.

“Mass tourism will not stop but it must change and be enriched with better quality indicators. Sustainable development, digital technologies and upgraded infrastructure should be the next steps,” the GNTO’s president said.