Greece Allocates Funds for Tourism Infrastructure Upgrades

Kastoria, Greece.

The Greek Tourism Ministry will move ahead with projects worth approximately 150 million euros including ski center upgrades, promotion and marketing of mountain destinations, enhancement of wellness, gastronomy and agritourism and the creation of Greece’s first DMMO (destination management and marketing organization) specializing in thematic tourism.

More specifically, Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki presented the plans during a meeting in Kastoria with government authorities, local professionals and tourism stakeholders.

Zacharaki’s visit was made on the sidelines of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ tour of Western Macedonia and presentation this week of the new development program for the region.

More specifically, according to Zacharaki, 56 million euros will go toward infrastructure upgrades at ski resorts and the promotion of mountain tourism, 28 million euros will be channeled into the development of wellness tourism, 17 million euros into the promotion of agritourism and gastronomy tourism through the creation of the first special interest DMO in Greece, and 46 million euros will be allocated for the “largest human resources training program” in the tourism sector.

(Photo center) Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki in Kastoria. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

“The wider region is one of the most up-and-coming tourist destinations in Greece. Our goal is to significantly support the region’s development dynamic, especially through the promotion of alternative forms of tourism,” said Zacharaki.

“With targeted legislative initiatives, such as the new development tool via DMMOs, the special visitor seals which will open Greek olive mills, breweries and cheese factories to the public, as well as more than 300 million euros to be allocated to projects promoting special forms of tourism through the RRF fund, we continue our efforts so that the Western Macedonia region enters a new era of development.”

The minister stressed that investing in new, sustainable forms of tourism, such as cultural, religious, wine, wellness, spa and eco- tourism is certain to create added value for Western Macedonia and its tourism industry.