Kefalogianni: Tourism Development Should Be Based On Criteria Of Sustainability

“For the Greek Tourism Ministry, it is more than clear that tourism development should be based on criteria of sustainability and respect for the natural and human environment,” Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni underlined while speaking at the third edition of the UNESCO World Forum on Culture and Cultural Industries taking place in Florence, Italy from 2 to 4 October.

The forum, organized in cooperation with the Italian Government and with the support of the Tuscany Region and the Municipality of Florence, aims to ensure that culture is duly taken into account in international development policies and strategies, especially at a time when the post-2015 development agenda is being elaborated.

During her speech, Mrs. Kefalogianni referred to the need for collective action to promote sustainable development, awareness of environmental issues and the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of each area.

“At a time of challenges, the culture of each country can be a catalyst in achieving the goals of prosperity, social inclusion and cohesion. This largely concerns Europe, which is currently in a historical phase of searching and restating our common principles,” Mrs. Kefalogianni said.

On Greece, the tourism minister said it was everyone’s duty to highlight the vast cultural wealth we have inherited.

“Museums with unique artifacts, archaeological sites of incredible beauty, monuments of exceptional beauty and imposing Byzantine churches, create a unique mosaic that starts from ancient Greece and ends in modern Greece,” she said.

“We owe it to the younger generations to invent ways to attract more young people towards Greek tradition and Greek culture,” Mrs. Kefalogianni added.