Thursday , March 28 2024

Tourist Minister Harry Theoharis:- Greece is drawing up a plan to safely re-open to tourism

*It is clear that in the current context, the attention of all of us is focused, almost exclusively, on the evolution of the health crisis. Especially for Greek Tourism, the questions that are asked, with the pressure and anxiety that are automatically created by reality itself, concerns the restart of the industry. If one wants to be realistic and fundamentally honest, one must recognize that the answers we need, both public and private, of Greek Tourism, are intertwined with the progress of vaccinations. On the achievement of immunity depends not only tourism, but every social and economic activity – and in fact on a universal scale. Greece, with the key initiatives of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is emerging as a leading factor in accelerating the processes in the right direction, at European level and beyond.

 

Written by Harry Theoharis *

 

 

Our request to the Ministry of Tourism is to implement the plan for the strategic transformation and the wider, long-term effort to upgrade Greek Tourism. Based on its contribution to the national economy, with a share of 20% and more every year, the tourism industry simply does not have the opportunity not to be constantly, comprehensively and intensively prepared for the new challenges. And it is true that we never worked harder, never had all the available possibilities activated in the Ministry of Tourism, EOT, the synergies with the private sector and so on. Although the tourist activity itself is necessarily limited due to Covid-19, in the background, quietly but in fact, lately, many, varied and extremely important projects are being launched and implemented.

 

Let us briefly mention here the areas in which the Ministry of Tourism emphasizes with priority:

a) Effective treatment of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Our primary concern is the immediate support of employees, professionals and tourism companies. In this context, the determination of the health standards and any prerequisite procedure for the opening of tourism, with absolute safety, is also included.

b) The promotion of Sustainable Tourism Development, with specific actions, at the level of institutional and material infrastructure.

The upgrade of Greek Tourism and the optimal utilization -even from an economic point of view- of the advantages of our country, presupposes the application of ecologically correct, “green” development standards.

c) Diversification of the tourism product and improvement of competitiveness.

The ultimate goal is the transition from quantity (ie the pursuit of an increasing number of arrivals), to quality. With the development of modern and profitable forms of tourism, such as gastronomic, diving, medical, etc. we seek to attract visitors with higher demands – but also higher financial status. In the same direction, Greece is transformed and promoted as a 12-month tourist destination.

d) Enhancing the added value of the skills of those working in tourism, through the total restructuring and upgrading of tourism education.

e) A fundamental change of philosophy in the promotion of Greece, with emphasis on new media, social media, digital applications such as VisitGreece, etc.

Our country is already advertised throughout the year and not only from spring as was the established custom. Internationally recognizable personalities are activated in order for Greece to be promoted with a fresh, attractive and mainly human face. So that it is a constant source of hope and optimism for millions of people around the world. Who must continue to dream that, on the first trip away from their country as soon as the epidemiological data allow, they will visit our homeland.

 

* Haris Theocharis is Minister of Tourism

source:- Harry Theoharis

About Louise Inzk

Louise is Australian born and has been a Greek citizen since 1991. She has deep cultural ties with the island, often writing about Zakynthian Traditions and Culture. She is also an active member of the Volunteer Group of Zakynthos, Giostra Di Zante and is a member of the women's choir "Rodambelos". Her love of the island and all it offers saw her joining the Zakynthos (Zante) Informer admin team in 2014.

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