A series of actions that can further contribute to the extension of the season in Corfu, in the context of a viable and sustainable tourism development with respect to the environment, culture and quality of life of the residents, presented the President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Angela Gerekou, at a workshop held yesterday (18 August) on the island on the subject: “The next day of tourism in Corfu”.
The meeting, which was organized on the initiative of Ms. Gerekou, was attended by the Vice-Regional Governor of Corfu, Konstantinos Zorbas, the Mayor of Central Corfu and Interprovincial Islands, Meropi Hydraiou, the Deputy Mayor of Tourism, Panagiotis Varouchas, the Mayor of North Corfu, George Mahimaris, the MP for Corfu (SYRIZA), Alexandros Avlonitis, as well as representatives of local tourism and professional bodies and the Ionian University.
The President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, after referring to the particularly encouraging figures of this year’s tourist season and the excellent management by the stakeholders of the recent fires on the island in operational and communication field, said: “Corfu managed to make a very dynamic come back after the coronavirus crisis. However, this “boom” must not become a boomerang at the expense of sustainable and balanced development, but also of the quality of life of residents and visitors.”.
Redefinition of the brand of Corfu
Then, Ms. Gerekou, referred to the initiatives of the Greek National Tourism Organisation towards the sustainable expansion of the tourist season on the island.
As he said, the aim of the Greek National Tourism Organisation is to promote Corfu as a city break destination for the whole year with the simultaneous promotion of conference, gastronomic and marine tourism and the connection of the tourism sector with primary production.
He also spoke about the possibility of hosting digital nomads and visitors of silver tourism, while he also stressed the effort to establish Corfu as an island of music and the arts, in cooperation with the local government and all stakeholders, praising the initiative of the Region for the creation of the Ionian Film Office, which will allow the promotion of the island through film productions.
He also stressed the importance of the operation of seaplanes in our country, for which he had worked in the past as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister, as it is a key project for the connectivity and the tourist market of the island and the entire Ionian Sea.
“The next day for tourism is today and what is needed is a redefinition of the Corfu brand” said the President of EOT, while inviting stakeholders to participate in the regeneration of the destination in a new, sustainable and sustainable direction.
The local actors
For his part, the Vice-Regional Governor of Corfu, K. Zorbas, referred to the excellent cooperation of the Region with the local authorities and the tourism stakeholders for the management of the major crises of recent years, but also to the importance that the Region attaches to tourism and targeted efforts to open up new markets.
The initiatives that have been launched in recent years, in cooperation with the Greek National Tourism Organization, referred in turn to the Mayor of Central Corfu and Interprovincial Islands, M. Hydraiou, the Deputy Mayor of Tourism, P. Varouchas, and the Mayor of North Corfu, G. Mahimaris.
Finally, the representatives of the stakeholders were positive about the prospect of extending the season, while pointing out the need to improve infrastructure in key sectors, such as culture, sports, traffic, environment and spatial planning in tourism.
It is noted that before the meeting and at the suggestion of Ms. Gerekou, the operators had submitted detailed memos with their proposals and requests, which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism, in order to be discussed in detail with the Minister, Olga Kefalogianni, and the Deputy Minister, Elena Rapti.
