Greek Tourism Needs More Women to Develop Sustainably, Says Minister

Angela Varela, Director of Domestic and International Services, GNTO; Vana Lazarakou, General Manager, NJV Athens Plaza; Maria Polykreti, founder of Naxian Experiences; Elena Rapti, Greek Deputy Tourism Minister; Olga Kefalogianni, Greek Tourism Minister; Katerina Santikou, founder and Managing Director of Workathlon; and Agapi Sbokou, owner and CEO, Phāea. Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Ensuring gender equality is crucial for sustainable societies and economies, said Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni during a special event this week marking International Women’s Day (IWD).

Addressing the “Women and Tourism – Employment and Entrepreneurship” event organized by the ministry on occasion of IWD, Kefalοgianni said that a sustainable future depends on equality in all fields of life. She went on to add that progress had already been achieved in political representation, employment, and educational opportunities, but women, she said, still face obstacles when it comes to equal participation in working life.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni addressing the “Women and Tourism – Employment and Entrepreneurship” event. Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Tourism needs more women, said Kefalogianni, at all levels of business management, and of course, across the entire spectrum of tourism entrepreneurship, stressing that sustainable tourism development clearly depends on the participation of women.

Lastly, she encouraged all women who wish to pursue careers in tourism to follow their dreams.

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

Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti referred to targeted actions aimed at enring gender equality including gathering best practices to combat gender inequality in the work place; setting up mechanisms for reporting and managing incidents of violence and harassment at work; formulating codes of conduct to prevent and combat discrimination in the workplace; and upgrading study programs in tourism education, which will create a favorable environment for women in the industry.

Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti and Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.. Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Also speaking during the event Agapi Sbokou, chief executive officer of PHĀEA Resorts, referred to the ongoing struggles that have enabled Greek women today to have no ceiling on what they can achieve. While Vana Lazarakou, the general manager of NJV Athens Plaza, underlined the importance of education among the younger generations towards eradicating inequalities.