Region of Central Macedonia Reveals Plans for a 12-month Tourism Season

Village of Agios Nikolaos in Naoussa, Imathia, Central Macedonia. Photo © Facebook – ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ

Edessa Waterfalls, Pella. Photo © Facebook – ΟΙ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΜΑΣ

Extending the season to 12 months with alternative forms of tourism is the main priority of the Region of Central Macedonia’s strategy for next year.

The region’s new tourism promotion program for 2015, which was recently approved during a meeting of the regional council, includes promotional activities of a budget of 460,000 euros and will focus on promoting specific thematic forms of tourism and not all geographical areas of Central Macedonia.

“The main aim of the Region in regards to tourism is one: to establish a 12-month season,” Central Macedonia regional governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas said.

The Lion of Amfipolis (a burial monument of the 4th c. b.C.) in Serres, Central Macedonia.Photo © Regional Division of Serres

To achieve this, the region will invest in the promotion of alternative and thematic tourism forms, which can be supported in all seven Central Macedonia’s regional units (Imathia, Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres, Halkidiki).

“We will present Central Macedonia as a single tourism product in order to welcome visitors 365 days a year, which translates to new income, new jobs and growth, not only for tourism, but overall for our region,” Mr. Tzitzikostas said.

The regional governor added that plans include attending international sector shows in efforts to strengthen Macedonia’s tourist product on the international market. Next year, the Region of Central Macedonia will participate in international tourism exhibitions in Stockholm, Sofia, Milan, Belgrade, Berlin, Bucharest, Moscow, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, London and Thessaloniki. The region will also participate in special interest exhibitions in Stuttgart (religious tourism), Friedrichshafen (Holiday on bike), Leicester (Birdfair) and Barcelona (EIBTM).

He added that the region plans to approach the new markets of the United Arab Emirates and China as of next year.

The region’s tourism strategy also includes investing in technology for promotional purposes (social media and Internet applications), hosting foreign journalists and tourism professionals (fam trips), promoting local products, introducing the region as a school tourism destination and adding new airline routes to Thessaloniki or increasing frequency on existing ones.