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Tourism & Property goes to Crete “The way is clear for tourist holiday homes with a correct infrastructure and respect for the environment.” That was the message of the speakers at the 1st “Tourism & Property in Crete” international conference that took place at the Aquila Atlantis Hotel in Heraklion, Crete, on 7 December 2007.
Attending this conference were more than 270 people. The speakers as a rule pointed out the need to showcase and promote what is already Greece’s favourite holiday destination, Crete, within the new bill on tourism zoning and holiday homes. According to the speakers, holiday homes are the new tourist product that is designed to lengthen the traditional tourist season and contribute substantially to the local economies of the tourist areas.
The “Tourism & Property in Crete” conference focused on developments in tourism, tourist real estate, agrotourism, cuisine and the use of alternative energy sources. Seminar speakers, Greek and foreign, with expertise in this field analysed the current situation, and suggested solutions to various issues of concern to the tourism industry in Crete.
The conference took in three basic issues:
In the first set of meetings, Greek state tourism officials, union bosses and company executives delivered their views on holiday homes, the new tourist product. Among the experts was Russell Bragg of Premier Resorts, a leading international company, who spoke on the crucial issue of sales.
In the second set of meetings, Cretan businesspeople, bankers and financiers and real estate dealers outlined their action so far in the new holiday homes sector, the new hotel situation and projected future investments in Crete.
In the third set of meetings, business executives, university professors and state sector officials presented a picture of agrotourism in Crete, along with Cretan cuisine and the use of alternative energy sources in tourist accommodation.
Among the speakers at the “Tourism & Property in Crete” conference were the president of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Athanasios Economou, the chairperson of the overseeing committee for studying the special framework for planning of the Ministry for the Environment, Planning and Public Works, Elena Nanouri, the president of the Technical and Commercial Chamber of Lasithi Prefecture and proprietor of Europlan, Michalis Horafas, the managing director of Iberostar Hellas, Manolis Kritsotakis, the managing director of Hellenic Homes, Nikos Skarakis, the managing director of Kataskevastiki Rethymnon, Nikos Sarantinos, the president of the Chania Prefecture real estate agents’ association, Loukia Kalliyani, the chairman of Vamos SA, Nikos Frantzeskakis and the president of the Hellenic Taste Academy, Antonis Panayotopoulos, among others.
Sponsors
Institutional Sponsor
Ministry of Tourism - GNTO
Diamond Sponsor
Tourism Development Co
Grand Sponsor
ATTICA BANK
Gold Sponsors
HELLENIC HOMES DEVELOPMENT & COSTRUCTION
Europlan Real Estate - Developers
Silver Sponsors
Plakias Resorts – Cretasol
Leptos Estates
Sponsor
Golden Chemicals
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