The destinations looking at a greener future – Part 2

Greece

As we have already seen in Italy, an awareness of ecological issues among hotel industry professionals in Greece is also becoming increasingly evident. At the beginning of 2023, the Greek Minister of Tourism stated: "the bet for 2023 is to achieve sustainability goals with policies, projects and interventions that will focus on alternative forms of tourism, the environment, the circular economy, alternative energy sources, water resources management, biodiversity protection, but also the promotion of Greece's rich cultural heritage". The priority in the country can therefore be seen as sustainability and offer infrastructure. Greece also wants to position itself as a winter, as well as a summer, destination. To this end, it is promoting less popular cities and regions, a practice we have already seen in Catalonia.

Greek destinations have already launched several initiatives. Started in 2022, The Rhodes Co-Lab aims to make the island a model destination on the issue of sustainable tourism development. The project will see sustainability experts working with the local tourism sector to find concrete sustainable solutions, develop them, and then implement them over the next five years. On Astypalea, the Greek government, in collaboration with Volkswagen Group, delivered eight electric vehicles in 2021. By 2026, the island aims to replace its entire fleet with electric or renewable energy vehicles.

On 14^th February 2023, the Ionian Islands announced their intention to open a Destination Management & Promotion Organisation (DMMO) as part of their strategy for sustainable tourism growth. The DMMO will involve all municipalities and industry stakeholders on the islands. These players will work together to plan promotional tools and actions to advance sustainable tourism development in the region. The organisation is supported by the Greek Ministry of Tourism, which intends to fund and support the creation of other DMMOs throughout the country...