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Kos Island Promoted to Dutch, Belgian Journalists and Tour Operators
Posted On 02 Sep 2023
Tag: alternative activities, Asclepius, biking, c503c, c877c, Casa Romana, destination, Dutch, FAM trip, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), history, honey, horse riding, international hippocratic foundation, Kos, l11427l, l11498l, mild climate, museum, production, scuba diving, swimming, Tour operators, Tourism, wine tasting
Photo source: GNTO.
Kos, a popular tourism destination in the Dodecanese Islands, was promoted as a “top of mind” destination to Dutch and Belgian media and tour operators during a familiarization trip organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Dutch branch and Kos Municipality.
The aim of the trip was to promote Greece as a multi-thematic tourist destination and particularly Kos, through alternative activities in order to establish it as a “unique experience” holiday location beyond the “sun and sea” model.
Photo source: GNTO.
During the trip five representatives from Dutch and Belgian tour operators TUI, De Jong Intra, Silverjet Essential Greece and Prijsvrij, visited hotels and tourism businesses on the island to establish B2B contacts with local tourism stakeholders in order to increase and enrich the packages they offer.
The fam trip group also included seven journalists representing some of the most popular digital and traditional media in the Netherlands and Belgium: Anouk de Groot, Online Coordinator of Telegraaf/ VROUW Glossy Magazine; Adeline Mans, travel editor of VT Wonen (print and digital magazine); Petra Pijlgroms, journalist/photographer at the weekly magazine Margriet; Francien Griffioen, editor at Reishonger, one of the largest tourism platforms in the Netherlands and Belgium; Rianne van der Linden, Marketing Executive of diving magazine DUIKEN; Lotte Wildiers, travel blogger on the travel platform Reisgoesting.be; and Lisa Vermeij, travel journalist for Travelbook magazine.
Photo source: GNTO.
The group participated in a wine tasting event at a local Kos winery, visited a traditional olive press, a honey and aloe production workshop, and the archaeological site of Asklepios, the museum of the International Hippocratic Foundation and the Casa Romana. They also toured the town by bike, enjoyed the sunset at Marmari while riding a horse, went scuba diving, and swam off the beautiful coasts of Kos and Pserimos.
At the end of the trip, most journalists took to social media hailing Kos as a top summer destination for both history and adventure lovers, while highlighting the island’s mild climate and endless coastline.
Kos is sinking with tourists TOTALLY unsustainable..the Hotels and businesses are all understaffed, we have a tiny hospital with a shortage of Doctors as there is no housing for Doctors or hotel workers. 64 taxis on the whole island so I do not think more tourists should be encouraged but more done for the millions that already come. The vast majority live in the AI Hotels where only the Hotelliers and the Tour operators see the money.