Sofia Zacharaki Steps in as Greece’s New Deputy Tourism Minister

Sofia Zacharaki

Sofia Zacharaki has been appointed Greece’s deputy minister for tourism education and special forms of tourism in a government reshuffle announced earlier today.

Born in Athens in 1976, 45-year-old Zacharaki has completed English language studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and postgraduate studies in Comparative Pedagogy and Administration of European Educational Organizations.

She specialized in English language teaching at the University of London’s Institute of Education.

In 2015, Zacharaki represented Greece in the International Visitor Leadership Program on a US Department of State scholarship with a focus on the role of public-private partnerships in the reconstruction of economies.

She originates from the mountain village of Granitsa in Evritania, central Greece, and speaks English, French and Spanish.

Before her move to the tourism ministry, Zacharaki previously served as deputy education minister on issues of primary and secondary education appointed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

She also served as advisor to the minister for International and European Relations at the development ministry from 2012 to 2014. In August 2016, she was appointed deputy spokesperson for the New Democracy party, and in March 2019, stepped in as party spokesperson.

She has also worked at the education ministry’s EU department and at the General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning.

Zacharaki together with all the members of the new cabinet will be sworn in on Tuesday.

Manos Konsolas Out of Greek Tourism Ministry After Reshuffle

Manos Konsolas

Outgoing Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas thanked Mitsotakis for giving him the chance to serve at “such a “difficult period” and pledged his support for the government after the announcement of the reshuffle.

“The government and the prime minister uphold the confidence of the vast majority of citizens. Our support in the prime minister’s efforts and in the government is a given,” he said.

Konsolas, who served as a deputy to Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis, was not included in the current cabinet reshuffle announced earlier today.

An MP representing the Dodecanese islands, Konsolas went on to refer to initiatives and actions seen through despite the pandemic and “the resistance from established mentalities”, he said.

Among others, he referred to the upgrade of Greek tourism schools curriculum; the establishment and operation of four new tourist guide schools in Thessaloniki, Corfu, Rethymno and Rhodes; securing EU approval for tourism education and research upgrade; and his role in drawing up bills on the “Upgrade of Tourism Education and Research and other provisions”, and the “Strategy of Regional Tourism Development and reorganization of the Regional Tourism Services”.

“In my political career the only sense of permanence that exists is the sense of duty towards citizens who have honored me and honor me with their love and trust. The feeling always remains strong and I will continue to express it through works and actions. With my activity, my proposals, my initiatives,” he said.