The islands of Athens from Cosmopolitan Hydra and Spetses up to the historic Salamis and the rising Porosare not just holiday destinations. They are driving lever for upgrading the tourist product of Athens and its wider metropolitan arc, giving the destination depth, duration and authenticity.

Their integration into Attica’s extroversion strategy highlights the dynamics of a islands that combines accessibility; viability and quality experience – Only a few nautical miles from the capital.

Their dynamic integration into the capital’s tourist narrative is extremely important for one more reason: they enrich the tourist product of the destination with new proposals and expand the choices of visitors, motivating them to extend their stay, according to the president of the Athens Hoteliers Association, Attica.

OR Periphery AtticaIn the context of its strategic tourism promotion, it places particular emphasis on its islands and seaside areas. In all the actions it implements – whether it is international tourism exhibitions, or workshops and b2b actions – the Attica presentation includes a large part of island destinations.

The goal is triple: to extend the tourist season, to strengthen small and medium -sized tourism businesses, often outside the center and sustainable tourism development.

“Attica’s tourist identity is not limited to its urban centers, but is also highlighted through its unique islands, which are natural gates of extroversion and cultural bridges 365 days a year. In Argosaronic the heart of authentic Greek hospitality is loudly beating. Islands such as Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina, Agistri and Salamis offer high quality experiential experiences, accessible to every visitor, just a breath away from Athens and Piraeus »says, speaking to the Athens and Macedonian News Agency, the Attica Regional Governor Nikos Chardalias.

“Our goal is to protect and promote the unique natural and cultural identity of these destinations, enhancing sustainable, ‘green’ tourism development. In complete coordination with local communities, we are working to ensure that this development respects the environment, the needs of the inhabitants and the islands as an integral part of our regional identity, “Mr. Cardalias added, and emphasized:” The case of Hydra is an identity of the environment. As a region of particular beauty and cultural value, it is governed by a strict institutional framework for protecting, prohibiting the movement of all wheeled, even bicycles, except for a few exceptions to meet residents’ vital needs. The recent stricter arrangements further enhance the island’s shielding, greatly satisfying the need to maintain its unique character, showing the way to a model of tourism policy. “

The islands of Attica are highlighted for proximents with large urban centers (such as Athens and Piraeus), their accessibility, but also for the unique features they offer to the visitor: authentic experiences, tranquility, natural environment, culture, gastronomy, hospitality.

Each island area can respond to different visitors’ profiles: from families, nature lovers and art friends to VIP high -consumer power tourists.

The Island Hoppingchartering of vessels with or without crew, themes, cultural festivals (such as Armata and Miaulia) and sporting events such as Spetsathlon, the authentic marathon and the Acropolis rally, reinforce the tourist narrative as a whole of the Attica and Attica District.

After all, with the recent establishment of DMMO “The Greater Athens Region” through the “New Metropolitan Attica SA” development organization The Region of Attica became the first in Greece with an official destination management and promotion organization with this new tool to strengthen the targeted tourism strategy in terms of professionalism and transparency.

The promotion and promotion of the islands of Athens is extremely important for an additional reason: the shielding of the already successful tourism product, according to the president of the Athens, Attica and Argosaronikon (SI) Hoteliers’ Association (EKI), Eugenios Vassilikos.

As he points out, “the islands of Athens today are facing what the Athenian Riviera used to face – that is, they do not know them as much as they deserve” and explains that in 2017 only 45% of Athens visitors were heading to the Riviera. Today this figure exceeds 80%, thanks to organized tourism policy and upgrading of services. The same should and can happen to the islands of the Argosaronikos, which is next to us, are wonderful and remain a relatively unused tourist treasure. “

According to the recent survey of the EXE: In the last 5 years, recognition and traffic on these islands has increased, but most of the visitors have not been aware of them. The most visited are Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Agistri.

“What we think as a Union is that even more promotion actions and promotions are needed to make tourists known how close to the city these islands are and that access is economic. More generally, as a Union we have been in the process of greater extroversion for the part of the islands while we are starting meetings with the islands responsible in order to listen to the particularities and needs of each destination and with the key to cooperation to proceed with extroversion actions. “ Mr Vassilikos says. Attica builds the future of its tourism identity with steady steps, investing in synergies, infrastructures and its largest capital: the uniqueness of its destinations. From the port of Piraeus to the last islet of the Argosaronikos, its island world has all the backgrounds to star in a new, more quality and sustainable tourism model – for visitors, residents and future generations.