Attica Region Government announced today its strategic plan of actions to promote tourism in the region, during the next five years, aiming at a 12-month tourism season in Attica.
The plan is in consultation with stakeholders and puts emphasis on new tourism products, like sports and conference tourism as well as the continuation of successful campaigns for gastronomic and city break tourism, while new areas of Attica, such as Elefsis, Marathon, Lavrio and Kithira, will be featured prominently in the region’s campaigns.
Targeted campaigns
At the same time, the Saronic Gulf and the Attica Riviera will be advertised by targeted campaigns on marine tourism, cruise and yachting.
Athens and Piraeus, the Region’s stronger brand names will be promoted as city and short break destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Series of separate destinations
To plan was presented by Patras University Assistant Professor Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas, who referred to the weaknesses that have been recorded in relation to tourism promotion, noting that Attica is not a mere destination, but an administative department that includes a series of separate destinations.
He stressed that Athens is missing from major Tour Operators lists such as TUI and DERTOUR and proposed to strategically approach Attica tourism promotion by highlighting markets on the basis of a series portfolio presentation.
Successful example
Furthermore, he characterized MICE tourism businesses cooperation with Athens City Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as a successful example of thematic tourism promotion, which should be followed in other cases.
He added that Attica destination names should be featured in the Region Government’s logos with reference to the Region itself as the source of presentation.
International exhibitions and social media
Attica Region Government shall cooperate with Greek National Tourist Organization (EOT), Athens-Attica-Saronic Hoteliers’ Association and Athens International Airport to implement the program.
The campaign will focus not only on international exhibitions, where there will be a strong presence, but also on social media with videos, posts for Attica based actions and special thematic tourism presentations.
Hospitality program
Furthermore, the foreign journalists, bloggers and tour operators hospitality program in thematic fam trips is expected to continue.
This program, which has been successfully implemented over the past three years in cooperation with the Attica Hoteliers Association, the region’s Municipalities and the private sector, offered to dozens of international journalists, tour operators and bloggers the opportunity to discover hidden beauties of Attica, cultural events as well as gastronomy and winemaking in the country’s largest region.
Increase overnight stays
Attica Region Governor Rena Dourou set the aim of increasing the region’s hotel overnight stays which is currently limited to only two. She also enumerated the challenges in infrastructure, bureaucracy and lack of communication plans in cooperation with competent bodies.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Elena Kountoura made reference to the large rise in Athens arrivals this year and effort which should be made through coordinated moves to increase overnight stays. Moreover, Ms. Kountoura reported that the Ministry prioritized the development of specific forms of tourism, such as conference, cultural, sports, coaching and city break.
