NEWS o the Peloponnese in October. She spoke to Ian Taylor
Dunes beach, Costa Navarino
SPECIAL REPORT
Country improves safety plans to
react to wildfires Greece is no stranger to the increasingly obvious conse- quences of a warming climate. Kefalogianni noted:
and cultural environment. Along with policies to diversify, upgrade education and foster cooperation with local communities, we’ve introduced tools for systematic data collection and information flow.” Kefalogianni added: “We’re
creating a platform for a National Observatory for Sustainable Tourism Development and we’ve established a monitoring centre for coastal and maritime tourism in the eastern Mediterranean, a project initiated with UN Tourism.” The centre aims to facilitate the collection and dissemination of data on coastal and marine tourism, with several countries
ew tourism strategy
seasons and provide more diverse experiences. We’re promoting yachting, winter tourism, diving, as well as spa and wellness, and financing projects to upgrade infrastructure in marinas, as well as ski resorts.” Other projects aim at upgrading
thermal spa facilities and “promoting agritourism, gastronomy and wine tourism, and we’ll launch digital platforms and special campaigns to support these activities. “Working with stakeholders,
we aim to promote off-peak travel and lesser-known destinations.”
Our strategy aims to
balance the benefits of tourism with the needs of local economies and communities
expressing interest in participating. She said: “Other initiatives
include upgrading the infrastructure for renewable energy and energy conservation in hotels, and working towards creation of a classification system based on sustainability criteria which will
certify hotels according to their environmental and social footprint.” The Travel Convention will come
at what she describes as “a pivotal moment for tourism in our country”. Kefalogianni said: “We’re
delighted to be welcoming Abta’s Travel Convention back to Greece. It’s an opportunity to
share our common vision.” i Registration remains open for The Travel Convention. Visit:
abta.com/ events/the-travel-convention
“Greece has, like many regions, experienced extreme weather events and wildfires exacerbated by climate change. Our government is allocating resources to improve infrastructure and strengthen destinations’ resilience. “Civil protection planning
is in place to address the risks associated with wildfires and the warning system for natural disasters – an emergency 112 text message – has already proved effective. The system played a crucial role in assisting the preventive evacuation of resorts last year. “When there is an increased
risk of fire, all agencies remain on heightened alert to take measures, including hotel evacuations if needed. “This year we launched a
Kefalogianni remains committed to cutting bureaucracy to encourage investment
Reducing the bureaucracy surrounding tourism investment was identified as a priority by Kefalogianni when she first headed the tourism ministry. She recalled: “Back in 2013, we established a dedicated one-stop shop at
the ministry to foster tourism investment. Our goal was to ensure different areas of investment benefited from reduced bureaucracy and expedited procedures. This unit has facilitated significant projects since then.” Kefalogianni believes Greece is now viewed as an attractive destination
for capital investment. But she insisted: “Creating an investor-friendly environment and streamlining procedures remains a priority. “There is growing interest not just in popular destinations but in
lesser-known areas. We recently introduced legislation to simplify procedures and facilitate investment not only in hospitality but also in facilities such as yacht marinas, thermal spas and wellness centres.” She added: “We encourage investments that prioritise eco-friendly infrastructure and create opportunities for sustainable growth.”
travelweekly.co.uk 26 SEPTEMBER 2024 15
digital assistant and mobile application, ‘mAiGreece’, which supports 31 languages and uses geographic location to provide timely, personalised information. A key goal is to provide immediate assistance when any part of Greece is affected by an emergency.”
Greece is boosting protection against wildfires
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis, Sven Hansche
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