Olga Kefalogianni: "Skiathos Leads the Way in Sustainable Tourism Development – 2025 Promises an Even Stronger Year"...otisimvenistinskiathonews.GR

 Subtitle:

From the island of Papadiamantis, the Minister of Tourism praised the Municipality of Skiathos for its pioneering sustainable tourism initiatives and highlighted that Greece remains at the forefront of the global tourism stage.

Introduction:

In a particularly positive period for Greek tourism, Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni visited Skiathos and participated in a conference titled “Sustainable Tourism Development and Environmental Protection”, held at the Bourtzi Cultural Center.
From the podium, she emphasized that the island stands as an example for the entire country, proving that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand.

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Main Article:

Ms. Kefalogianni described Skiathos as a “model destination for sustainable tourism”, noting that “the island shows the path to a new era for Greek tourism, where progress goes together with respect for nature and culture.”

She further stated that Greece continues to achieve record-breaking arrivals and revenues, with 2025 expected to be an even more successful year for the sector.
“2023 was a milestone year, in 2024 we surpassed all previous records, and 2025 is shaping up to be even better,” she remarked, while stressing that “tourism requires continuous vigilance and strategic planning.”

The Minister underlined that the core objective of the Ministry of Tourism is qualitative and sustainable growth, with full respect for the environment, cultural heritage, and local communities.
She also pointed out that tourism is facing new challenges, such as climate change, geopolitical instability, and evolving travel trends — but that Greece continues to respond dynamically, leading the way internationally.

Particular reference was made to the introduction of a new hotel classification system based on environmental performance, placing Greece at the forefront of global sustainable tourism policy.

Ms. Kefalogianni also highlighted the investment opportunities and the use of European funds for projects that promote balanced regional development and unlock the potential of local destinations.

Praising Mayor Theodoros Tzoumas, she noted that “the Municipality of Skiathos is the first in Greece to be officially recognized for its sustainable tourism policies.”
She commended the collaboration between the Municipality and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), stressing that such initiatives strengthen Greece’s image internationally.

Concluding her remarks, the Minister called on all tourism stakeholders to work together towards “a tourism development that endures over time, with quality and respect for the environment.”

📸 Photo by Vassileia Parissi