Region of Crete Puts Aside €1.5m for Tourism Support, Promotion

Rethymno, Crete. Photo source: Visit Greece.

Crete’s regional council recently approved the annual budget for 2023, which includes the amount of 1.5 million euros to go towards the support of the island’s new tourism promotional program.

According to Crete’s Deputy Governor of Tourism and e- Governance, Kyriakos Kotsoglou, the approved tourism promotion program was planned out following international marketing trends and the Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) strategy.

The tourism program for 2023 also takes into consideration the conditions created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the global economic recession and the cost-of-living crisis. Further details on the program were not announced at the time.

Kotsoglou highlighted that the Region of Crete gained considerable experience through its previous tourism promotion program that was part of the “Crete 2014 – 2021” scheme, funded by EU’s Regional Development Fund and other national resources.

Region of Crete Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis (left). Photo source: Region of Crete.

Moreover, the island’s regional council approved a 2.1 million euros budget for its culture and sports program.

Aiming to strengthen Crete’s cultural and sports identity, the program will build upon this year’s 600 cultural events and activities organized or supported by the Region of Crete, and the numerous sports activities, some which were international, hosted by the island.

Crete’s Deputy Governor of Sports Giorgos Pitsoulis, the Region’s Cultural Advisor Kostas Fasoulakis, and Art and Contemporary Culture Advisor Evangelos Zacharis agreed that the main objective of the 2023 program will “be to highlight Crete’s dynamics in culture and sports and preserve the local cultural and historical heritage.”

The region’s budget for 2023, which adds up to over 315 million euros in EU and national resources, includes funds for a number of improvement projects including plans for Crete’s road network development as well as activities related to agriculture and education.