Olga Kefalogianni Outlines Framework for Greece’s Tourism Development
Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni on Friday identified a number of actions that the ministry plans to carry out in order for Greek tourism to become stronger, more competitive and sustainable.
Speaking during the three-day debate on the program statements of Greece’s new government, Kefalogianni highlighted that Greece can become a globally attractive all year round destination through its comparative advantages.
“The main aim for the next decade is to achieve a strong, competitive, sustainable tourism product, which will lead to a strong and competitive economy, income, jobs, social cohesion,” she said, underlining that sustainable tourism is key to the Greek government’s vision for the sector.
As a step in that direction, the minister identified four goals as part of the ministry’s tourism strategy for Greece.
“These goals are part of a broader plan that is realistic and applicable and answers all the big or small challenges that tourism has to face in the present and in the future. A plan, which concerns and is directly related with the strategic aspirations of our government. Because Greek tourism is a large and crucial part of a wider strategy,” she said.
Tourism Ministry’s four goals
Goal 1 – Achieving sustainable tourism development by completing the interconnection of Greek destinations and this way giving visitors access to lesser-known areas in the country’s 13 regions.
According to Kefalogianni, the dispersal of tourists to all destinations in the country will help achieve sustainable tourism development. The effort will be supported by establishing Destination Management and Marketing Organizations (DMMOs); launching the National Observatory for Sustainable Tourism Development; and completing the Special Framework for Spatial Planning for tourism in collaboration with the Environment Ministry.
She added that the government intends to finalize legislation to strengthen tourism entrepreneurship, ensure the quality of the tourist services provided and safeguard the country’s tourism product.
Kefalogianni said interventions will be made to regulations regarding the operation of short-term accommodation rentals in city centers and in destinations that are experiencing overtourism. She said the government will look to ensure fair market competition.
Moreover, the minister announced that a research center will launch to collect and process quantitative and qualitative data for marine and coastal tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Goal 2 – Enriching and diversifying the country’s tourism product.
To work towards the second goal, Kefalogianni said emphasis will be placed on highlighting new products, experiences and destinations and enriching the country’s identity with new features.
“The improvement of competitiveness will also be sought through the promotion of special forms of tourism and the strengthening of the institutional framework concerning thematic tourism activities in businesses and implementing a strategy for their development and promotion,” she said.
The minister then listed infrastructure projects that have been included in the Recovery Fund and will be carried out to support and promote Greece’s special forms of tourism:
– a diving tourism project that includes the creation of new and the upgrading of existing diving parks;
– a mountain tourism project that includes upgrading the facilities of ski centers and mountain refuges and also developing paths;
– a project to boost the development of health and wellness tourism by upgrading the (existing or under establishment) infrastructure of thermal spas;
– a project highlighting the country’s culinary tradition;
– shaping a regulatory framework for thematic forms of tourism (city breaks, luxury tourism, marine tourism-cruise, cultural tourism, religious tourism, etc.) and developing targeted strategies to support them;
– engaging in synergies with other ministries to carry out actions to strengthen special tourist products, such as developing fishing tourism in cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development and Food; and
– strengthening domestic tourism demand by continuing and improving the “Tourism for All” subsidy program.
Goal 3 – Strengthening the image and identity of the Greek tourism product on a global scale.
To achieve the ministry’s third goal, Kefalogianni said Greece’s special forms of tourism will be promoted as well as the lesser-known Greek destinations
“The chief priority here will be to balance the concentration and the dispersal of visitors across destinations,” she said, adding that actions for the third goal include the complete upgrade of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and its digital modernization.
Goal 4 – Upgrading the country’s tourism education.
In the field of education and skills, Kefalogianni said modern training programs will run for at least 180,000 workers in tourism and in new specialties in accordance to the needs of the market. There will be no geographical limitations.
The minister said a program aiming to offer new skills and also reskilling opportunities for those employed in the tourism sector will be carried out through four cycles.
“Τraining is essential to support the modern identity of the Greece brand ,” Kefalogianni said, describing Greece as an attractive destination with worldwide recognition, varied features, modern tourist infrastructure and high level services.
Olga Kefalogianni was appointed as Greece’s tourism minister in late June, following the Greek parliamentary election, which was marked by the victory of the New Democracy party. Elena Rapti has taken the position of deputy tourism minister.
Why does all year round tourism get mentioned but never happens.
I was commissioned to write about Greece in 2012, my first feature appeared at World Travel Market London in 2013. Since then I have continued when invited and will continue if it is asked of me. Cyclades, Crete, Athens, Thessaloniki, Peloponnese and Ionian. I love Greece, After my own country and India my second home I consider Greece and some of her islands are my third home.