Greek Minister: Climate Change Overturning Traditional Business Models in Tourism

South Aegean Region Governor George Hatzimarkos, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and HOTREC President Alexandros Vassilikos at the Rhodes EU Forum. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Climate change is overturning traditional business models in tourism forcing Greece and the world to identify new ways to adapt to the a reality, said Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni during the “EU Tourism: Resilience in the Era of the Climate Crisis” forum held on Rhodes this week.

Addressing the event, which was organized by HOTREC with the support of the South Aegean Region, and included the participation of tourism and travel associations from Greece and Europe, Kefalogianni underlined the importance of immediate initiatives.

She said tourism stakeholders in Greece had already introduced measures that focused on sustainable practices including reducing their energy footprint and establishing a culture of sustainability and resilience in the management of tourist destinations.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni speaking at the forum. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Among others, the minister also referred to the launch in the coming period of the first Mediterranean Coastal and Maritime Tourism Observatory together with UN Tourism (former UNWTO).

Kefalogianni went on to underline the importance of establishing a permanent Council of EU Tourism Ministers and a Tourism Committee. “We are at a critical moment where our actions will be shaping the course of the European Union’s tourism sector,” she said.

The Rhodes forum came to a close after European tourism bodies signed a joint declaration pledging to take actions to address arising climate-related challenges.