WORLD TOURISM DAY 2024

“TOURISM AND PEACE”

 

THE REVIVAL OF THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES

A PROJECT WITH A VISION OF PEACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

 

by George Barboutis

Today, as we celebrate World Tourism Day with the timely theme “Tourism and Peace”, we are faced with a unique opportunity to examine how tourism can act as a force for peace and solidarity, particularly in the sensitive Mediterranean region.
The Mediterranean has always been a meeting place for cultures, religions and peoples.
However, the challenges it faces today – such as geopolitical tensions, migratory flows and climate change – require new approaches and solutions that promote peace and cooperation.
Tourism, as an activity that brings together people from different parts of the world, has the power to bridge differences, enhance understanding and promote international friendship.  

The Colossus Revival: A Vision for the 21st Century

The ancient Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, was dedicated to the Sun god and represented the freedom and peace that followed the successful defence of Rhodes against Demetrius the Besieger in the Hellenistic era.
This statue, with its gigantic size, stood proudly at the entrance to the city of Rhodes, welcoming visitors from all over the then known world.   Today, the vision of the revival of Kolossos must take on a new dimension, reflecting the values that our era needs more than ever: peace, friendship and cooperation between peoples.
The new Colossus, instead of being a sterile representation of the ancient miracle, could be a modern symbol of peace, a global reference point reminding us of the need for dialogue and coexistence.   This project should be a major tourist attraction, attracting visitors from all over the world, but also serve as a meeting place for cultures, a venue for international conferences and events focusing on peace and sustainable development.
The new Colossus of Rhodes should host a thematic museum dedicated to the history of the ancient Colossus and its values, as well as an International Peace Centre, where dialogue and cooperation will be promoted at a global level.  

ROADMAP FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPERATION

1. Idea – Vision

Colossus is the eternal myth that Rhodes “carries”, which is attempted to be given a new substance, without being altered by the creation of a sterile and anachronistic copy (Replica of the statue) with archaeological implications.   The philosophy and ambition of the project is to constitute an evolutionary ideological continuation of the ancient statue, which was dedicated to the Sun god, peace and freedom, and also to take on a nationwide character and to be presented as a Greek seal of the universal and timeless ideas of universal peace, friendship and brotherhood of peoples, with the prospect of becoming a global landmark and reference point.  

2. Implementation (Global Competition )

The conception of the project must be based on the construction of a contemporary architectural creation, with artistic expression and dimensions of an innovative and sustainable technical achievement, a 21st century vision and version, which will respect the measure, harmony, the historical and culturally rich architectural environment of the place.
This project should be the result of an open global competition, in order to create a rich reservoir of architectural ideas for its construction.  

International Evaluation Committee

The best of the proposals are proposed to be evaluated and selected by a local and international Selection (Evaluation) Committee, composed of eminent personalities from the fields of culture, letters, arts, sciences, technology and politics.
It is proposed that the Selection Committee be placed under the auspices of the President of the Republic, in order to ensure global visibility, international prestige and absolute transparency of the procedures.
In this way, the project will have the potential to be brought under the auspices of UNESCO and other cultural bodies, following our existing priceless monuments and attracting funds from foundations, sponsors, Greek and philhellenic citizens.

3. Featured Projects – Avoidance Εborealization

In order to eliminate any possibility of commercialization of the project, it is proposed that the money from future revenues be reinvested towards the dissemination of peace and our cultural heritage by creating:

A) an interactive Thematic Museum on ancient Colossus and its history

B) an Archaeological Research Centre, but also an Academic Chair of Colossus, which will assist the research and study of future generations of young archaeological scientists – researchers on issues relating to the location or possible future findings of the ancient wonder, according to the latest scientific data and

C) the establishment of an International Centre for Mediterranean Peace Chair, which will house an excellent, technologically advanced cultural centre, which will include a conference and exhibition centre, an amphitheatre, a concert hall and will host international events and activities.

4. Finding Resources – Funding

In the direction of raising financial resources, it is proposed that the project be self-financed through the mobilization of distinguished personalities(Ambassadors of the Idea), who will lead an International Fundraising Campaign that will raise money from sources such as:  

• sponsorships from Greek and foreign foundations,
• grants from official bodies and International Organisations, such as UNESCO, the European Union and others
• supports local authorities
• donations from wealthy Greeks, expatriates of the diaspora, as well as philhellenic citizens all over the world, who would like to contribute to the implementation of the idea.

 

1. 5. Contact Strategy

The communication strategy should be designed with the main objective, on the one hand, to maximise the publicity of the project and, on the other hand, to find the resources through:

• The creation of an International Public Relations Campaign, with the aim of generating global interest, informing and maintaining contacts with the international media.
• The mobilization of eminent Greek and international personalities, artists and celebrities, who will support the project internationally as its ambassadors.

 

1. 6. Examples – Optimal Best Practices

To avoid confusion, it is worth mentioning just a few examples of landmark projects that have added glory and admiration to the cities – countries that undertook them:

• The new Library of Alexandria (www.bibalex.org)
• The Opera House of Sydney (www.sydneyoperahouse.com)
• The Museum Guggenheim in Bilbao (www.guggenheim.org)
• The New Acropolis Museum ( www.theacropolismuseum.gr)

but also many other wonders where they have been built have created significant cultural surpluses.

7. Mediterranean Έacts ΕPeace

The supreme challenge is to consolidate the conviction that Rhodes can, in the long term, claim the reputation of the “Neutral Island of Peace”, a symbolic “Davos” for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the Mediterranean and beyond.
And through the semantic creation of the Colossus Revival project, to maximise extremely important benefits.
Rhodes, with its multicultural identity and its prominent strategic position at the crossroads of three continents, becomes an ideal place for bridging ideas and cultures, consolidating free dialogue and promoting the universal and timeless ideal of peace and brotherhood of peoples.  

• MULTIDIMENSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ECOLOSSAL BUSINESS

As can be seen, the project is progressively developing along three major pillars with sustainability in mind:

1. The first, in the sense of an admirableArchitectural Landmark of the island, offered for healthy and sustainable tourist development.
2. The second, in the sense of a pioneeringCultural Achievement of the 21st Century with the creation of a technologically advanced museum complex, which will incorporate Archaeological Research Spaces, Conference Centre, Concert Halls for international cultural events and happenings.
3. The third, Diplomatic, which in the long term will aim to create aMediterranean Venue of Peace on the island, thus offering significant benefits to our international relations.

Benefits and Advantages

  Such an undertaking will have the potential to offer significant benefits to Greece on multiple levels, sending a message to the global community of the country’s dynamic presence in international developments and confirming the modern evolutionary perspective of Greek culture.  

As a tourism project, ensures publicity and impact, repositioning Rhodes and Greece dynamically on the world map, creating a diversified demand for the destination, promoting economic and social development, helping to extend the tourist season and generating significant income.
As a cultural achievement, it attracts the interest of the world community, contributes to the exploitation of our National Treasures and contributes to the promotion of our cultural heritage.
As a work of diplomacy, is expected to be a resounding response to those who question the borders of Greece and the United Europe, strengthening our sense of national pride and making Rhodes a universal transmitter of messages of world peace at an international level.  

STRATEGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO THE PROJECT

  The strategic positioning of the Colossus Revival project at the core of the sustainable approach becomes imperative.
It creates the appropriate conditions for our country to harmonize and contribute decisively to the development goals of sustainability and sustainability of the 2030 Agenda, established by the United Nations and adopted by the World Tourism Organization, UNESCO and the European Union.
The transformation of the world starts with our own transformation, the change we wish to bring to our place, through projects such as the one proposed.
As mentioned, it is an action plan that desires and seeks prosperity, peace, fraternity and the free expression and flow of ideas, with a specific target:

• the creation of an architectural project that is in harmony with the principles of sustainable philosophy and respects the natural, residential and cultural environment,
• the economic and social development of the country and the improvement of its standard of living, as it will provide countless jobs,
• promoting the “building” of a new, universal and collective intelligence, through partnerships between universities and institutions in many countries,
• ensuring equal access to educational activities linked to our culture, myths and history, tradition and values,
• the creation of a pioneering infrastructure, open to the whole world, through the philosophy of inclusion of all people without exclusion and discrimination,
• improving our country’s ranking in terms of its performance in innovative practices, compared to other countries,
• the promotion of peaceful and cooperative actions in order to promote Rhodes as a crossroads of culture and peace among peoples, through the creation of a Mediterranean Peace Chair.
• the transformation of the city of Rhodes as a creative city, which, according to the Creative Economy Report 2030, can be the catalyst for fragility, sustainable development and the restoration of the economic and cultural fabric of the region and Greece.

A VISION OF PEACE FOR A BETTER WORLD

  We join our vision with that of the World Tourism Organization, the UN, UNESCO, and the European Union, in order to be able to converge on the universality of the overall solution to the global challenges (5Ps) of the 21st Century: the
Peace, the
Peace (Peace),People (People), of
Prosperity,Partnership andPlanet to create a better future for all.
This project with a vision of peace in the Mediterranean can be a model worldwide for the establishment of a culture of peace through international cooperation, acting to achieve in particular Goals 16 “Peace and Justice” and 17 “Partnership for the Goals” of the 2030 Agenda.   According to the UN Secretary General Mr.
Antonio Guterrez “The Sustainable Development Goals are the pathway to a fairer, more peaceful and prosperous world and a healthy planet and the greatest challenge for intergenerational solidarity.”

(https://unric.org)

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization at the World Economic Forum in Davos said: “The return of tourism offers the opportunity to reaffirm the values that the sector stands for namely peace, solidarity and international cooperation .” https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/tourism-not-just-about-travel-also-peace/  In 2024 the message “Tourism and Peace” is at the heart of the World Tourism Day theme and it is clear.
https://www.unwto.org/events/world-tourism-day-2024. There is no time to lose. We must rethink our tourism product and become a catalyst for change as a place to transition to a new era for our island. This project with a vision of peace in the Mediterranean can make Rhodes a global model for establishing a culture of peace through international cooperation. A Rhodes “lighthouse city” that will radiate in perpetuity messages of hope and optimism for the creation of a better world for future generations.

George Barboutis

Giorgos Barboutis is a strategic expert in Marketing & Management with many years of experience in the tourism, hotel and cultural sector.
After 25 years of careful involvement with the Revival of Kolossos, the project has been adapted to the current challenges https://colossusproject.org. As a founding member & Project Leader of the Tourism Think Tank https://epot.gr we embody a strategy that combines cultural heritage with sustainable development, enhancing Rhodes’ role as a global symbol of peace.