Olympia Forum: MEP Calls for Unified European System for Sustainable Tourism Certification

Western Greece Vice Regional Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos and Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos. Photo source: Olympia Forum

The need for a unified European system to register and certify sustainable tourism was recently highlighted by Elena Kountoura, a member of the European Parliament.

Speaking via video call during a panel discussion at the recent 5th Olympia Forum event, Kountoura spoke of the importance of implementing specific, comparable criteria and progress indicators for sustainability in tourism across Europe.

She advocated for a system that would be applied uniformly at the pan-European level, offering common references and standards for tourism-related topics to foster greater sustainability throughout the industry.

Sustainable tourism on the European Parliament’s agenda

Elena Kountoura, member of the European Parliament.

Kountoura also mentioned that the European Parliament has recently voted on several proposals aimed at supporting the tourism sector, with a strong focus on sustainable development. These proposals encourage EU member states to allocate funding for plans promoting sustainable tourism practices.

“The climate crisis is escalating rapidly and with increasing intensity. We need mechanisms in place to manage and mitigate its impacts,” Kountoura stressed. “The proposal I’ve put forward is more crucial than ever, as it will help us prepare for natural disasters, such as the recent one in Thessaly.”

Additionally, Kountoura addressed the importance of protecting the rights of tourism industry workers, safeguarding local cultural and natural resources, and ensuring the involvement of local communities in tourism planning so that they can directly benefit from its growth.

Promoting authentic tourism experiences in Western Greece

Western Greece Vice Regional Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos. Photo source: Olympia Forum

During the same panel, Region of Western Greece Governor Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos underlined that his region has been working for the past five years to reclaim its position on the tourism map, both domestically and internationally, by leveraging its unique identity as the land of the Olympics.

Sakellaropoulos highlighted that the next step for the regional authority is to focus on authentic tourism experiences, encouraging investments in this area to enhance recognition and productivity.

“The region of Western Greece is characterized by a blend of contrasts that define its beauty. We aim to showcase these contrasts along with our competitive advantages,” he said.

Western Greece needs greater promotion

Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos. Photo source: Olympia Forum

Aldemar Resorts CEO Alexandros Angelopoulos also underscored the necessity of promoting the Region of Western Greece to attract more visitors.

“It is currently the least visited region in Greece,” Angelopoulos noted, mentioning that the Araxos Airport remains operational due to his company’s funding.

“This year’s increase in traffic at Araxos is not solely attributable to my company’s activities but also to my personal efforts,” he added.

Angelopoulos pointed out the region’s comparative advantages, including a well-developed road network that facilitates travel for Greeks who typically drive to mainland destinations. However, he stressed the importance of finding effective ways to promote the Araxos airport to draw more international tourists.

Held in Ancient Olympia during October 18-20, the 5th Olympia Forum’s theme was “Empowering Cities & Regions”. The event was organized by the Patris newspaper in collaboration with the Delphi Economic Forum.