Ministry: Upgrading Greece’s Tourism Training and Education a Priority

Upgrading the training and education offered to Greek tour guides is a top priority for the tourism ministry, said Evridiki Kourneta, the ministry’s secretary general.

Evridiki Kourneta

Addressing the 20th European Tourist Guides Meeting and the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) 1st delegates annual general meeting held in Heraklion, Crete, this week, Kourneta also referred to the ministry’s plans to re-open the Thessaloniki Tourist Guide School in 2019.

During her speech, the secretary general stressed the importance of capitalizing on the growing dynamic of Greece’s tourism through the improvement of education and training offered to future professionals. Kourneta underlined that the industry will generate this year some 16 billion euros in revenues from over 33 million visitors.

Organized by the tourism ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the event brought together tourist guides from some 25 countries who had the chance to exchange views and insight on the challenges in the field while also attending guided tours, lectures and training seminars.

Kourneta went on to present ministry initiatives and actions focusing on the upgrade of public tourism training and education, which for the first time is being directly linked with real market conditions.

“With the re-opening of the Athens Tourist Guide School, we have drawn up new guidelines for studies and plan to re-open the Thessaloniki Tourist Guide School in 2019,” said Kourneta.

On the sidelines of the event, Kourneta met with FEG president Efi Kalamboukidou and with the board of the Panhellenic Tourist Guide Federation (POXEN).

On a final note, Kourneta reiterated the ministry’s commitment to reforming tourism education and fostering collaboration among tourism stakeholders in order to resolve issues impacting the sector so as to ensure the highest quality services are offered in view of the increasing demand for Greece.