On the occasion of the ITB International Tourism Fair in Berlin, Haris Theocharis, ND MP and a candidate for the World Tourism Organization, speaks to DW.

Climate change, prolonged periods of heat and drought in summers, extreme weather events such as floods, sea level rise. But also new trends in holiday, rest, wellness options for travelers. The world is changing, the natural environment is under pressure, the wishes of the younger generations of tourists are constantly mutating. Countries with a heavy tourism industry such as Greece are also pressing to change their strategic planning in the tourism sector, not just in the long run but here and now.

The transition to “viability and durability” is the big bet of Greece in recent years, the ND MP, a former ND MP, former Tourism Ministry and Candidate Secretary General for the World Tourism Organization, which we met in Berlin in Berlin in Berlin, told DW.

“We must continue to invest in this transition, in the viability of using less plastic or any material that is not easily recyclable and on the other to try to deal with the increasingly often -born crises from climate change, fires, floods in Valen. The tourist world must face the concept of resilience from a new perspective, “says Haris Theocharis, stressing that tourism, economy and society are interrelated.

Fund and Data Center for durability

For the Greek politician who is claiming the position of Secretary General in Pot, a hub for global tourism, in which Greece has not claimed a leadership position to date, there are significant two steps: the creation of a Data Center for durability, where Member States will share critical data for climate and climate change. Solidarity for supporting tourist countries that are hit by natural disasters.

Greece, as it notes, has experienced in recent years the consequences of climate change in tourism strongly, with fires in Rhodes or Daniel floods in Thessaly, so the relevant funds have increased in the state budget. “A few years ago we had nothing, then an account was built with 300 million, then with 600 million just because we see the frequency of phenomena growing.”

The tourist season changes – and not only

Climate change, however, in the case of Greece, beyond all else, has also changed the concept of “tourist season”. As Haris Theocharis states: “We saw this phenomenon in 2024, we saw the August revenue reduced compared to 2023,” he observes, though the year was better and the August retreat did not seem strongly.

There is now a strong tourist traffic even in December and January, as he explains. This is due to the change in preferences e.g. Many Northern Europeans for months in months with lower temperatures to avoid unbearably high temperatures in the summer.

At the same time, however, the preferences of the new generations of tourists, the gen Z and the following are changed: away from famous, luxurious tourist destinations, they are looking for more alternative and affordable holidays and accommodation. “Our country has always had the whole range of tourism product to offer beyond products that cannot objectively offer … for example. Beyond that it offers products for all the grilles, for all the scams, for all tastes. “

Greece and neighbors

This year’s Honorable Country at ITB is Albania, a country with which Greece has close links in the tourism sector, as Haris Theocharis points out. Many Albanian businessmen and tourism workers have gained experience in Greece for example and transfer their knowledge there. Also, he says, for example, common tourist programs that combine holidays in Greece and the Albanian coasts are of interest. In general, Albania has its “trumps” as she says, virgin nature with tourist infrastructure reminiscent of Greece many years ago.

On the other hand, there is, of course, Turkey, with the tourist visa program that opened up to the economy of the east and northern Aegean islands last year. It reinforced islands that the Northern European tourist does not know brought Turkish visitors closer to these islands. “And it was one of the first measures to build trust we had with our neighbor, and I think its success encourages us all to continue on this path.”

The infrastructure test

From then on, the development of the tourism industry is generally intertwined with the development of infrastructure, and as Haris Theocharis characteristically says, tourism always generates infrastructure needs and is always one step ahead. Steps have been taken, but pressures for better ports, airports, roads, railways are constantly exerted. “In practice, pressure is exerted,” he says, when tourist movement itself and social conditions highlight the need for modern infrastructure.

Finally, in terms of the big picture of Harry Theocharis, Greece’s strong position in the World Tourism Organization would enable Greece, as a tourist country, to assist with its experiences, but also contributes to tackling the big problems of the industry: from over -tourism to the change of urban landscapes from the short -sighted landscape.