The Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, refers in an interview with the “Free Press” in support of the winter destinations that have recovered during the festive period for the next period.
“The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to support the people of Greek tourism in practice,” said Mr. Kikilias, referring to the measures to support hotels, travel agencies, event companies and conferences announced on Friday, the special information campaign abroad, campaign winter destinations starting for domestic tourism and the integration of these units in the general regulation regarding energy costs. He points out that it is a strategic choice for mountain tourism and ski resorts to be among the most beneficiaries of the Recovery Fund resources.
Mr. Kikilias announces that the Government is elaborating, for the first time, the “National Strategic Plan for Tourism Development 2030”, with the aim of extending the tourist season, through the support of winter destinations, city break and cruise, but and the development of a new sustainable tourism model that will effectively address the environmental footprint.
“A national strategy, which is launched in an era of new challenges and great competition and is created jointly with the most traditional and dynamic sectors of the Greek market and society. The main pillars of the National Strategic Plan include the development and promotion of our tourism product, accessibility and connectivity, green infrastructure, destination and experience management, tourism education and training, a flexible regulatory framework with less bureaucracy and an innovative model crisis management “, he states characteristically.
The Minister of Tourism characterizes the promotion of sports Tourism as a strategic priority of Greek Tourism, noting its great dynamics due to the global trend of visitors to health and wellness, experiential travel and contact with nature. “Already this week we agreed with the Scandinavian Apollo to strengthen the sports tourism programs that it runs in cooperation with the Swedish Olympic Committee, apart from Epirus and Lemnos and Rhodes. In Crete, Heraklion and Rethymno, significant efforts are being made to strengthen this thematic product. At the same time, many successful sports events in our country, from the mountain running competitions in Olympus and Zagori, the swimming marathon in Northern Evia, the triathlon competitions in Spetses, attract amateur athletes from abroad who combine their participation with holidays. “And of course there is the crown of sporting events, the Authentic Athens Marathon, a sporting event that highlights the city, offers its economy and adds value to Greek tourism,” said Mr. Kikilias.
He also points out that the 320 million euros allocated from the Recovery Fund to the Ministry of Tourism will be allocated to infrastructure projects such as marinas, tourist ports, ski resorts, destination management, thematic tourism categories – Mountain Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism, Agritourism and Gastronomy, Diving and underwater tourism-, in the training and upgrading of skills in the tourism sector, in digitization, while it mentions as a top priority “the access of our fellow citizens and visitors to tourist destinations, beaches and businesses”. He adds that “most of the RRF concerns the country’s infrastructure and is directly linked to tourism investment. Road networks, airports, ports, infrastructure such that will help to extend the tourist season and to receive more and more quality visitors “.
“Not as much capital has been invested in the country in the last many years as those of the RRF. It is an opportunity not to be missed. As far as the Ministry of Tourism is concerned, any absorption below 100% will be considered a failure “, says Mr. Kikilias, expressing at the same time his optimism that” maritime tourism will be one of the most dynamically developing tourism products in the coming years. as a very significant part of the RRF’s resources is foreseen to be used for the creation of new and upgrading of existing marinas “.
Asked about the markets in which Greece targets, the Minister of Tourism stressed that this year, although to a lesser degree, will operate under the regime of pandemic challenges. “For this reason, we are focusing on strengthening our traditional markets, which in 2021 responded to the health safety message sent by the country. At the same time, we are focusing on boosting flows from the US with 14 direct flights this year. “But by returning to normalcy, we are turning our attention further east to India and South Korea and to further strengthening the flows from the Gulf countries.”
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