Most Greeks, of all ideological persuasions, agree that tourism is our national industry. Hence it is only natural that we should do everything we can to protect and improve it.
As the steadily increasing tourist volume of the last few years has not only brought obvious benefits but also caused distractions, legitimate questions are being raised about how local economies can or should deal with them.
Is tourism in Greece – the result of the country’s natural beauty – a blessing or a curse? It’s obviously a blessing. but we should do everything we can to protect it so it stays a blessing.
The issue has leapt to the forefront, demanding a public dialogue about where we are, how we got here and, most importantly, where we go from here, and how.
It is in that context that Kathimerini has taken the initiative to try to forge a roadmap for the future.
Greek tourism is doing well and it is without doubt a very important success story for this country.
That doesn’t mean that some aspects of the way the country’s tourism industry has developed in the past cannot change. Improving the Greek paradigm, making it more solid through responsible practices, should be a national goal.
It is with that in mind that this week Kathimerini hosted another Reimagine Tourism in Greece summit, in coordination with our partners who have shown a long-term positive impact on the industry, share our hopes and aspirations, but at the same time are similarly concerned about deficiencies and obstacles that have to be overcome.
The aim is to have a modern tourism industry that benefits Greek society as a whole, while safeguarding our traditions and cultural treasures, and at the same time protecting the environment and the country’s natural beauty.
In that effort we aim to be the intellectual cornerstone of a healthy debate and exchange of ideas.
If we do it right, it will benefit everyone: private businesses, local economies, and, at the end of the day, the country as a whole.
Our aim is none other than to contribute to the creation of an ecosystem that facilitates innovation and encourages the implementation of best practices, and, in doing so, helps to reshape Greek tourism with an eye to a sustainable future.
This post was originally published on here
