Ministry Aims to Develop Karpathos into Exclusive Tourism Destination

A seven-pronged strategy based on cooperation between public and private stakeholders for the development of alternative tourism on the island of Karpathos, was presented this weekend by Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas.

Karpathos has great potential as an alternative tourism destination and in 2019 recorded the largest increase in international arrivals among the Dodecanese islands, said Konsolas, who also represents the island in parliament.

“Karpathos must create its own independent tourism development model, to invest in quality; to attract visitors whose average spending on the island will be well above the national average,” he said.

“Karpathos must raise the bar” and steer clear of all-inclusive options instead focusing on exclusive tourism products, he added.

A first priority in this direction, according to Konsolas, is modernizing the airport through a concession deal with a strategic investor.

The minister went on to present the key areas of the strategy that will create value added for the island: the development of marine and cruise  tourism with the licensing of a marina; the development of climbing tourism through certified routes; cultural tourism through restoration projects; diving tourism through the creation of diving parks; agri-tourism through the restoration of traditional Karpathos homes into museums; nature tourism with the establishment of walking routes on the northern side of the island which has been designated a Natura 2000 area; and lastly, highlighting and including as part of the tourism product the unique cultural heritage of the island.

Konsolas pledged the ministry’s support in the efforts and in the promotion of Karpathos.