Aiming to strengthen rural and agritourism in Greece, AGROXENIA and the Hellenic-Italian Chamber launched a national information and engagement campaign for agritourism businesses starting from Xanthi, under the European program DigAccessAgrotourism.
The first informational event took place on July 22, marking the beginning of a series of actions across the country to support small agritourism businesses — such as guesthouses, farms, local producers, and cultural organizations — in adopting digital technologies and boosting their presence in both domestic and international markets.
DigAccessAgrotourism is a multinational program implemented in six European countries (Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland), with Greece participating through the Hellenic-Italian Chamber and AGROXENIA as a partner. Its aim is to provide specialized digital tools, enhance the skills of agritourism entrepreneurs, and foster European-level networking.
“Rural tourism has a future — it needs planning and partnerships”
Nikos Gallios, president of AGROXENIA, emphasized the importance of the collaboration with the Hellenic-Italian Chamber, stating:
“The event in Xanthi sends a clear message: Rural tourism in Greece has a future, provided we invest in a coordinated way, with planning and respect for local communities.”
He noted that small businesses and producers across the country offer authentic experiences but are in need of training, support, and especially integration with modern technology and international networks.
He added that DigAccessAgrotourism provides not only essential knowledge but also practical tools for the digital transition of agritourism units.
Accessibility, personalized support, and international networking
During the event, the core pillars of the European program were presented, including:
Tailored strategy for each business
Mentoring programs
Knowledge exchange with international agritourism enterprises
Digital tools and technical support
Networking with the European market
Participants had the opportunity to speak directly with program representatives and express their needs. The strong presence of local business owners highlighted the region’s high interest in strengthening its agritourism offering.
Organizers’ Statements
Marco Della Puppa, Secretary General of the Hellenic-Italian Chamber, described the partnership with AGROXENIA as “strategic,” allowing the Chamber to engage directly with the real needs of agritourism businesses.
“DigAccessAgrotourism is the tool to move from theory to practice,” he stated.
George Palisidis, a board member of the Chamber, emphasized that through direct interaction with agritourism professionals in Xanthi, it became clear that practical solutions tailored to Greek realities are urgently needed — with a focus on digital transformation.
Persephone Avramidou, head of European programs development at the Chamber, expressed her emotion at choosing Xanthi as the first stop, noting that the local community warmly embraced the initiative, and AGROXENIA’s involvement ensures the program’s actions address the real needs of rural Greece.
