Samothraki Open Forum Focuses on Sustainable Island Growth

Panel discussion at the 1st Samothraki Open Forum.

Tapping into smart technology, encouraging business partnerships, boosting connectivity with neighboring Aegean islands and Turkey, promoting gastronomy and culture, strengthening the current regulatory framework for the preservation of the island’s landscape and traditional settlements, launching an interactive application for travelers and setting up walking paths around Mt Saos were the key findings of the 1st Samothraki Open Forum held recently on the northern Aegean island of Samothrace.

Visit to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothraki on the sidelines of the 1st Samothraki Open Forum.

Organized by Iasion with the support of the Samothrace Municipality, the two-day event focused on best practices towards the sustainable development of the island’s resources, utilizing its key geopolitical location along the Silk Road route as well as ways to promote through the ongoing European Cultural Heritage year local culture and gastronomy.

“We are hoping to establish the Samothraki Open Forum as an annual event which will contribute to the creation of a culture of sustainability and cooperation on the island,” said Panagiotis Kambouroglou, founder and managing partner of Iasion, organizer of the event.

Speakers of the 1st Samothraki Open Forum.

Panagiotis Kambouroglou.

The second day of events, focused on ways to develop a sustainable tourism model that respects natural resources, cultural heritage and at the same time meets the needs of the island’s inhabitants. Key areas explored in this direction include the adaptation of smart solutions and the importance of business partnerships. Speakers pointed to the example of beekeeping as a potential business cluster, while emphasising the need to further strengthen the Samothrace brand.

“The sustainable development of the island and preserving its population, particularly young people, is vital. Dialogue between forum speakers, delegates, and local producers, demonstrated that Samothrace is far from being a contemporary sustainable business model that would create high added value and sustainable jobs. We gathered to propose specific solutions,” Kambouroglou added.