Minister Kountoura Meets Up with Crete Tourism Authorities

Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura met with regional authorities and local sector professionals on the island of Crete, during her visit there this week, where she discussed investment, infrastructure, development and improvements and promotion of the tourist product.

Among the priorities set by Minister Kountoura is the further development of Crete’s tourism infrastructure, which she said can make Crete a leading factor in the extension of the tourism season, and added that she would again meet with all regional authorities in September, so as to review infrastructure and project proposals to receive NSRF funding ahead of November’s national promotional strategy.

The minister also said she would discuss the possibility of expanding Heraklion’s international airport with her colleague National Defence Minister Panos Kammenos. 

“Only through cooperation, synergy and agreement can we achieve our goals. Crete relies on tourism, it is a pillar of growth, and with our common strategy we can bring together tourism, culture, the primary sector and the environment for the further promotion of the island,” said Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, after his meeting on Thursday with Mrs Kountoura.

The minster also visited the Heraklion InfoPoint, which provides information to visitor and tourists and inaugurated the Wednesday opening of the traveling “Orange Water Modern Art Festival” in Heraklion, which runs through to August 24.

The minister is expected to meet today with the Pancretan Tourist Federation as wel as with the Rethymno and Chania hoteliers associations.

On her visit, she met with the hotelier associations of Heraklion and Lasithi, the Pancretan Association of Hotel Managers and the Association of Cretan Travel & Tourism Agencies.