The Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, spoke at the conference “Greek Tourism, a National Issue! Conference 2025,” highlighting the inseparable connection between major infrastructure projects and the enhancement of the tourism product.
In his address, the Governor focused on three key areas: the implementation of landmark infrastructure on the island, the pursuit of funds from the Cohesion Policy, and the identity of Crete through its culture and human resources.
Stavros Arnaoutakis emphasized that a primary priority is the completion of large-scale development projects, which will allow Crete to attract quality tourism, increasing revenues rather than simply the number of arrivals.
He referred to the progress of works on the North-South Highway (VOAK), the upcoming commencement of the Chania-Heraklion section, and stressed the need for expansion towards Sitia. He also discussed the new airport in Kastelli and the island’s energy interconnection, which eliminates power outages during peak tourist seasons.
Crete is the Island of Creative People, Not the Few Who Tarnish It
The Governor made a special mention of the significant success in having the Minoan Palaces added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, a result of collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, as well as the designation of Crete as the “European Gastronomic Region” for the upcoming year.
In closing his speech, Stavros Arnaoutakis made a clear distinction between the overwhelming majority of Cretans and isolated incidents of criminal activity. “Crete is not the few who tarnish its history and culture. Crete is the people of labor in agriculture and tourism, it is our Universities and Research Institutions,” he concluded, condemning actions that damage the islands image.
