In celebration of its 7th anniversary, Tourism Partnership for Chania hosted a special event on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the Minoa Palace Resort. The event served as both a reflection on the initiative’s accomplishments to date and a platform for discussing future strategies for sustainable tourism development.
Tourism Partnership for Chania brings together the support of the Association of Hoteliers of Chania Prefecture, Fraport Greece, Aegean Airlines, Eurobank, the Hellenic Tourism Organization (EOT), and Marketing Greece. Its main objective is the unified and targeted promotion of Chania in international markets, with actions that focus on extending the tourist season, strengthening connectivity, and highlighting the authentic identity of the place.
At the event, greetings were delivered by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms. Anna Karamanli, the Member of Parliament of Chania, Mr. Alexandros Markogiannakis, and the Deputy Governor of Chania, Mr. Nikos Kalogeris. Representatives of the Local Government, tourism organizations and entrepreneurs were also present.
Dr. Ioannis Pappas, Director for the Mediterranean Region at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), joined and was invited to participate in the “Sustainability Session” alongside distinguished speakers: Mr. Thanos (SETE), Mr. Sampson (Travel Foundation), and Mr. Paterakis (DEDISA). The session focused on the importance of adopting sustainable practices in tourism and addressed the key challenges currently facing the Greek tourism sector.
“Effective sustainability begins where tourism meets daily life—at the destination. Through GSTC’s Destination Self‑Assessment, the Destination Stewardship Starter Kit, and our Stewardship Framework, we empower communities to measure, manage, and elevate their unique cultural, social and environmental identity. By basing strategies on validated data and globally‑aligned standards, destinations can move beyond ambition to deliver real, measurable impact.” Said Mr. Pappas.
The anniversary event highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation among key stakeholders in the tourism sector. Through open dialogue and the exchange of ideas, the “Tourism Partnership for Chania” continues to contribute to discussions around the region’s tourism development, with a focus on long-term planning and sustainable practices.
