Alpha Bank Regeneration Plan to Reestablish Rhodes as Top Tourist Destination

(L-R) Alpha Bank CEO Vassilis Psaltis; Tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni and South Aegean governor George Hadjimarkos. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

As part of ongoing social responsibility actions, Alpha Bank announced this week that it had channeled funds into landscaping, tree planting, road network development and antiflooding studies on Rhodes, aimed at restoring the island’s reputation and standard of living following the devastating fires last summer.

Alpha Bank presented the plan during a special event on Rhodes attended by government officials, local authorities and tourism stakeholders.

The actions, which include the planting of 1,700 trees along the road network that connects the communities of fire-hit Glystra, Kiotari, Asklepiio and Gennadi, were carried out in collaboration with the South Aegean Region and island professionals and focused on improving Rhodes’ reputation, supporting local communities, and setting the groundwork for Rhodes to develop into a model sustainable tourism destination.

Among others, Alpha Bank is also funding anti-flooding studies to be carried out by the Rhodes Hotels Association and a circular economy educational series being implemented at local high schools.

Rhodes, Greece.

“Alpha Bank supports every effort by businessowners, organizations and the local society of Rhodes to shape a better tourism future for the island. We believe that every challenge can be transformed into an opportunity. Rhodes can be a model of transformation, developing its tourist infrastructure and services, protecting its natural wealth, further upgrading the quality of the services offered,” said Alpha Bank CEO Vassilis Psaltis.

A bank delegation is scheduled to also meet with local business owners and tourism professionals to discuss ways to upgrade the tourism product on offer.

Alpha Bank said that in the last four years it has channeled a total of 2.5 billion euros in the Greek tourism sector, 220 million euros of which to support Rhodes tourism in the 2019 -2022 period. Additionally, it supports small and medium-sized tourism businesses.

After expressing his gratitude to Alpha Bank for its support, South Aegean Region Governor Georgios Hatzimarkos said Rhodes was “working tirelessly to transform itself into a global model of sustainable tourism”.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Also attending the event, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni referred to ministry efforts and actions aimed at enhancing Rhodes’  tourism identity.

Rhodes has been at the forefront of sustainability actions over the past few years. Rhodes Co-Lab is one such initiative carried out by the South Aegean Region, the Rhodes municipality and tour operator TUI Group aimed at identifying and implementing concrete sustainable solutions that focus on the people, the environment, and the economy.