ECTAA: Greece Takes Bold Strides Towards Sustainable Tourism

Photo source: Aldemar Resorts

In a step forward for sustainable tourism, Greece is ushering in a new era in its tourism strategy, focusing on nature conservation, community respect, and human-centric considerations, the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) said on Tuesday.

According to the association, Greece’s “strategic shift” will position the country as a “frontrunner in global tourist destinations and experiences”.

In collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), ECTAA recently hosted a roundtable on “Greening The Greek Experience” that featured distinguished speakers who shared valuable insights and strategies for fostering sustainable tourism.

Themed “A Collaborative Approach to Sustainable Tourism” and the second of its kind, the event focused on local initiatives spanning the entire tourism value chain.

Prominent industry leaders, such as Alexandros Angelopoulos (CEO of Aldemar Resorts), Vangelis Vassiliou (Senior Sales Manager | Central Europe Grecotel Hotels & Resorts), Efstathios Kontos (Tilos Municipality), Tina Kyriakis (founder of Alternative Athens), Anastasios Gourgouras, (Owner Milia Mountain Resort & Restaurant) and Kyriaki Boulasidou (Director Greek National Tourism Organisation Benelux), engaged in discussions on crucial sustainability measures.

During the event, the speakers stressed the importance of small initial steps in the sustainability journey citing examples as Alternative Athens a start-up company – DMC specializing in thematic tourism and Milia Mountain Resort an eco-lodge with attention to sustainability.

They highlighted Aldemar’s Care Corporate Social Responsibility program, which aims to maximize social and economic benefits for communities while responsibly managing environmental impact.

Grecotel’s commitment to reducing carbon footprints through locally sourced products was also emphasized, showcasing the substantial commitment of large hotel chains to sustainability.

“Greek tourism actors, with the support of the Greek Government, are completely committed to ensuring that the country becomes a fully sustainable, year-round destination,” Kyriaki Boulasidou, Director of the GNTO Office Benelux, said.

“The exemplary Zero Waste initiatives on the island of Tilos illustrate how small local communities can actively invest in sustainable tourism,” she added.

Just Go Zero program on Tilos. Photo source: Polygreen.

According to ECTAA, Greece’s collaborative effort signifies a bold step towards a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry.

“As Greece charts its course towards a sustainable future for tourism, stakeholders and participants are invited to actively participate in shaping the future of tourism in Greece,” the association said.

ECTAA represents some 80,000 travel agents and tour operators in Europe, which provide consultancy and sell transport, accommodation, leisure and other tourism services as well as combined products to leisure and business customers.