In the context of the Conference “Next is now 2021: Greek Tourism, a National Affair! Opportunities and Perspectives “, the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias, announced the launch of the Digital Nomads initiative in Greece.
This initiative will be launched on a pilot basis in Ermoupolis, Heraklion and Kalamata, in cooperation with the private sector, such as the Wind company. For quite some time now, many visitors have been working remotely from these islands. In fact, V. Kikilias stated that the goal is for 2022 to be a landmark year for Greek tourism.
He said that several visitors stayed in the Greek islands or other parts of Greece during the winter and chose to work using their laptops. Digital Nomads are a global trend. More specifically, Mr. Kikilias in an interview given to Nikos Hatzinikolaou, said that digital nomads are important for Greece, as they greatly enhance off-season tourism.
In order to make the digital nomad’s life easier, telecommunication companies will offer internet connections packages and the Government will cooperate to offer accommodation and food services.
Vassilis Kikilias said that it is not the only initiative undertaken by the government, but it is a proof of the importance of a sustainable tourism model.
Greek tourism is a national affair and presents enormous potential and increased prospects.
Specifically, the Minister of Tourism stressed that “It is a national issue because now, as never before, as a country we need to be Champions in Tourism. 1 in 4 euros of the Greek economy, i.e. 25% of GDP comes directly or indirectly from greek tourism.
The Greek government sets as a priority Greek people who are making their business steps in tourism, commerce and food services.
Mr. Kikilias set the 4 pillars of government policy for Tourism:
Based on these 4 pillars, the government will act to achieve all the goals it has been set. Some of them are the extension of the tourist season, the diffusion of our visitors throughout the country, especially in new and unexplored corners of our country, the approach of qualitative tourism, the nomination of cruising, the attraction of investments and the sustainability of tourism.
In this context, the conference pointed out that, for the first time in the history of Greek Tourism, a winter campaign will be presented for the countryside, destinations, that preferred in winter, the mountains of Greece, the incomparable beauty that all the Regions have, likewise for the city break, a kind of alternative tourism, in Athens and in Thessaloniki.
Tourism, the puffer of the Greek economy, is not in autopilot. It requires hard and team work from everyone and a lot of effort. Wish and hope is that 2022 will be the year that Greek Tourism will take off.
Written by Athanasia Grammoustianou