Ionian Islands Region Aiming to Open DMMO to Boost Sustainable Tourism Growth

Ionian Islands Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou with Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias. Photo source: Ionian Islands Region.

The Ionian Islands Region in Greece is planning to open a Destination Management & Promotion Organization (DMMO) as part of its sustainable tourism growth strategy.

The move was discussed between Ionian Islands Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou and Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias at a recent meeting during which the region’s sustainable development strategy was presented.

According to the governor, the Ionian Islands’ DMMO will consist of an organizational umbrella under which various authorities, tourism agencies and professionals will collaborate to promote a common vision for the region’s destinations.

Lefkada, Greece.

The DMMO will involve all Ionian islands’ municipalities and tourism, economic and development stakeholders, who will collaborate for the planning of promotional tools and actions to pave the way towards the region’s sustainable tourism development.

During the meeting, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou pointed out that a DMMO will assist the region’s tourism strategy for the long-term and beyond the concept of just “next summer’s season”. Minister Kikilias agreed to support the DMMO launch as part of the ministry’s plan to fund and technically support the creation of DMMOs around Greece.

Kikilias speaking during the event on Lefkada. Photo source: @VKikilias.

Kikilias, who recently visited Lefkada, spoke about Greece’s tourism “success story” and the positive forecast concerning the tourist flows to the Ionian islands for 2023.

“January early bookings had a 20 percent increase while expenditure per traveler is also expected to rise by 10 percent in 2023,” he said.

The Ionian Islands DMMO will offer a coordinated management of the multiple destinations the region has to offer, increase their competitiveness in the global tourism market and effectively address issues that may negatively affect tourist flows to the area.

The islands of the Ionian include Corfu, Paxi (or Paxos), Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Kythira (an Ionian island but included in the region of Attica).