Stavros Arnaoutakis, Governor of Crete Region

Official Tourism Message

Crete is a safe, attractive destination with strong comparative advantages and potentials.

The reinforcement of the local economy is based mainly on two pillars of development: tourism and agriculture. While implementing its strategic planning, the Region of Crete proceeds to the interconnection of tourism with the primary sector and local culture. Besides, the island is promoted both in Greece and abroad with the integration of the brand name “CRETE” that applies to all fields (history, culture, tourism, agricultural produce, Cretan cuisine and gastronomy).

Within the framework of its strategic promotion, the Region of Crete has successfully proceeded to the implementation of targeted actions of openness with its awarded advertising campaign (http://www.incrediblecrete.gr), and with its participation in the most significant tourism fairs in Europe. Moreover, it has established and keeps contacts with all tourist agents abroad and it develops strategic co-operations with a view to maintaining and increasing our high performance in that field.

In addition to the above actions, Crete focuses on actions that support the reinforcement of high quality tourism and its alternative aspects, aiming at the extension of the tourism season.

Alongside with the NSRF funding, the Region of Crete claims additional national resources, emphasizing in a series of infrastructure projects and interventions pertaining to the local development, the stimulation of the island’s economy, the reinforcement of entrepreneurship, and the creation of new vacancies, by also putting to advantage the pioneering achievements of the scientific and research institutions of the island.

Crete has a lot to offer to any-one, therefore the visitors’ profile is multi-faceted. The Region of Crete continues its endeavors by showcasing the island’s advantages, since we believe that Tourism constitutes a national issue both for Crete and Greece in general as it shows significant developmental perspectives. Therefore, it needs common endeavors and support.