THE GOVERNOR OF CRETE REGION FOCUSES OVER ALL THE ISSUES
As one of Greece’s most iconic destinations, Crete continues to shape its tourism landscape with ambitious strategies and bold initiatives.
The Regional Governor of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, talks about the island’s key tourism markets, development challenges and the future of sustainable development. From strengthening its international presence to improving critical infrastructure, Crete is shaping the right environment for a thriving and resilient tourism sector in the coming years.
The most important markets for the origin of tourists in Crete in 2024 are the fixed markets that flood the island every year.
Germany, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia continue to hold the scepter in terms of air arrivals of tourists to Crete. Specifically, in 2024, 1,306,291 tourists from Germany, 866,275 from the UK, and 654,583 from the Nordic countries arrived at Crete’s airport. Of course, the 5,315,681 air arrivals include thousands of visitors from many EU and East European countries. Europe. For 2025, our targets are the same, but with an extra focus on the Indian and Asian markets. A goal that is being served, alongside the construction of the new International Airport in Kastelli, but also through our participation in the Mumbai (OTM) and Girona (Connect) Exhibitions a few days ago. The same goes for the Arab countries, Canada and the USA, as well as Latin America, markets that are not yet making big numbers, but are the future of Crete.
Exploring the Majestic Psiloritis. A trecking wonderland in Crete
Asterousia Mountain in Heraklion. The Majestic and Untamed Landscape of Southern Crete , ehere the mountains meet the Libean Sea
There is a plan to address the problems that we believe could affect the development of tourism in Crete.
In particular, our plan is the basis for the course that Crete will follow in the coming years. It synthesises and mobilises all the productive forces and expresses the expectations of the citizens. The Recovery Fund is a major opportunity and challenge to overcome our productive, economic and developmental backwardness. The funds allocated to Greece, together with the remaining EUR 40 billion from other Community funding, must be used for the real needs of the economy and society. For the Region of Crete, the planning of major infrastructure projects requires the participation of all stakeholders. Achieving common goals ensures that Crete will be able to meet the challenges and enter a new era of growth and prosperity. In this context, I have been stressing this for years and I repeat it now.
The completion of the Northern Road Axis of Crete is the top of the island’s development pyramid. A modern, European-standard motorway that runs through Crete from Kissamos to Sitia is not only a key development prospect, but above all it is a way of covering the island’s development deficit. At the same time, the progress of the construction of the new airport at Kastelli is expected to change the position of Crete in the transport sector to a large extent.
trecking adventure in Crete Exploring the Majestic Samaria Gorge
The Region of Crete, in cooperation with the Municipalities of the island, the tourism operators and with the participation of specialised scientists, is preparing and updating the Road Map for the next few years, until 2030.
Using the data, we are specifying and at the same time adjusting our operational objectives based on the needs of a dynamic market. Within this framework, the Region of Crete supports all initiatives that contribute to the development of thematic forms of alternative tourism. From the SUP World Championship in Agios Nikolaos and the Pierra Creta in Psiloritis to the Samaria Run in the White Mountains. At the same time, we promote abroad all these actions created by the operators all over the island, both in the context of the presence of the Region in tourism exhibitions around the world and in particular, such as through the strategic cooperation with National Geographic for the 4 UNESCO sites of Crete (Samaria, Psiloritis, Asterousia, Sitia). In this context, we believe that the Ministry’s policy in this area will strengthen the efforts of the Region of Crete.
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