Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis visited the thermal springs in Kaiafas, Ilia on Wednesday, where he noted the need to develop the springs and attract more tourists to Ancient Olympia, while welcoming positive messages concerning the cruise sector in Greece, ANA reports.
Speaking of the thermal springs he pointed out that such a “huge resource of unique natural beauty should be not remain unexploited due to bureaucratic rigidity,” adding that “we all must work together for this place to regain its former prestige and vitality and through this process create new jobs and open this place to thousands of people that can restore their health and pass pleasant moments.”
On the development of the spa facilities, he noted that “we must look at the existing plan again,” adding that the comparative advantage of the area is its close contact with nature and the environment, so any development should have high environmental standards. “We are living in a period when development and environmental protection are not contrary but supplementary meanings,” he added.
On Ancient Olympia, he recognized that this was a “fabulous treasure” that had never made tourism its priority. “This must change and we must see this comprehensively, from all sides. The biggest problem the road network. If there is no access to an area we talk about tourist development,” he said.
Referring to the cruise sector, Theocharis stressed that this was a success story that started with New Democracy, as there were no cruises before the scrapping of cabotage laws in Greece. “It appears that Greece is back on the cruises’ map as an upward trend is recorded for 2019, with an increase of around 10 pct, while the messages for 2020 are optimistic”.
On the nearby port of Katakolo, he added “that it is a central issue in the government’s plan for the country’s promotion in the international cruise chessboard, as it “can become the entrance gate to this huge resource named Ancient Olympia”.
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