Ministry: Greece Tourism Growth Can Support Local Communities

Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development Olympia Anastasopoulou, speaking during the 11th Regional Growth Conference (RGC 2023). Photo source: RGC 2023.

Sustainable tourism development that will create added value for local communities and destinations countrywide is a top government priority, said Greece’s Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development, Olympia Anastasopoulou, during the 11th Regional Growth Conference (RGC 2023) conference held in Patra last week.

Addressing the event attended by government officials and regional tourism stakeholders, Anastasopoulou referred to the multiple effects of tourism growth on local communities and the national economy.

“Tourism is a driver of development which mobilizes local markets on all levels: from the primary sector to construction and from transport to catering. It is no coincidence, that the sector contributes significantly to the growth of our national product, to employment and investments,” she said.

The secretary general went on to add that the Greek tourism ecosystem is directly related to the standard of living, the preservation of natural beauty and the economic evolution of local social groups.

Among others, Anastasopoulou referred to the tools available for local governments to expand their tourism offerings key of which access to national resilience funds for the creation of destination management organizations (DMOs) and the upgrade of tourism infrastructure in line with the principles of green development.