Greek Interim Tourism Minister Meets with Innovators to Discuss Next Day

Handicrafts, food experiences, preserving the character of destinations, inclusive working opportunities in tourism, doing away with plastic, ensuring accessibility, introducing lesser known destinations, tapping into nature experiences were just some of the issues discussed this week between interim Tourism Minister Ioanna Dretta and tourism stakeholders from across Greece.

Dretta met with innovators from a diverse set of businesses active in tourism that work towards integrating values of sustainable development, volunteerism and accessibility into the tourism product and experience.

The meeting focused on ways to enrich the tourism product on offer by tapping into Greece’s advantages, enhancing the visitor experience, protecting the environment and the identity of destinations and on ways to face the challenges ahead.

“In view of the opportunities but also the ongoing challenges, Greek tourism also relies on the hundreds of innovative and creative companies and initiatives throughout the country in order to integrate the values of sustainable development into its activities,” said Dretta after the meeting which covered 14 key areas with scope for development.

Stakeholders active in tourism participating in the meeting, included Alternative Athens, Chef Stories, Corfu Design Route, we4all, Common Seas, Anassa, Cycladic Identity, Seatrack, Hellenic Society of Supported Employment, We Love Aegina, Μessolongi by Locals, Clio Muse, Boundless Life, and Paths of Greece.

Earlier this week, Dretta stressed that it was critical that the emerging government after Sunday’s elections takes actions to manage tourist flows at high-in-demand destinations, reduce costs for tourism enterprises, preserve value for money, ensure sustainable development and practices, and resolve staffing issues.