Chios Island Secures €500,000 in Funding for Tourism Promotion

Chios, Greece.

The Greek island of Chios will be promoted through a far-reaching program to be carried out by the municipality and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), announced Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi.

The Greek minister recently met with GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis and Chios Mayor Stamatis Karmantzis to discuss ways to promote the island and increase tourist flows.

In addition to a series of ongoing upgrade works expected to contribute to the increase in arrivals, Mitarachi said the ministry would be allocating 500,000 euros to the Chios Municipality to jointly formulate a targeted marketing strategy for the island in collaboration with the GNTO.

(L-R) Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi; GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis. Photo source: Migration Ministry.

The agreement, to be finalized in the coming weeks, foresees the international promotion of Chios for a 12-month period to be implemented in three phases.

“Tourism is a key pillar of development for Chios in the coming years… but promotion is necessary,” said Mitarachi referring to additional funds channeled for the promotion of the island in the past in efforts to restore its reputation after the refugee crisis.

“The refugee issue is no longer a topic of discussion for future visitors to the island. It is no longer putting a disproportionate burden on the island,” he said.

Chios, Greece.

Mitarachi went on to express his optimism, adding that there was still more room for improvement. In this direction, he said the creation of a private tourism promotion agency, support from the Chamber and from local stakeholders is crucial to the island’s tourism development.

“Chios is one of the 10 Greek islands which are on a development path and in the coming years will play a very important role as part of a new type of tourist product,” said Fragakis.

According to Mitarachi, Chios has already received 400,000 euros for promotional activities.