Greece Launches Visitable Cheese Factory Certification Process

The Greek Tourism Ministry announced this week that it was launching procedures for the certification of cheese factories wishing to welcome tourists.

The move comes as part of ministry efforts to diversify the tourist product and link farming and primary production with the tourist experience.

Cheese factories open for visitation will be awarded a special seal indicating that they abide by the set-out standards for the operation of tourism enterprises in Greece, following a joint decision by the tourism and agricultural development ministries published recently in the Government Gazette.

The Visitable Cheese Factory label follows similar labels granted to wineries, breweries that produce Greek beer, and olive mills that produce Greek olive oil.

The labels will be issued by the tourism ministry’s regional tourism services based on location.

Photo source: Visit Greece

Among others, in order to be eligible, cheese production units will be required to have a reception and waiting area for visitors, a special area equipped for tastings, and a promotion & sales point.

Cheese units with ministry certification will be able to offer tastings, presentations and events as well as printed and digital multilingual informational material to promote the consumption of Greek cheese products as part of efforts to strengthening the culinary identity of Greece with an emphasis Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products.

“Actions are continuing to promote special forms of tourism especially in agrotourism,” said Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti, adding that the ministry will invest more than 17 million euros to set up the first special interest DMO in Greece focusing on gastronomy and agrotourism.