Partnerships for Sustainable Cruise Tourism in Greece

Corfu is one of the top tourist destinations in Greece, combining a unique natural and cultural environment, with the Old Town a UNESCO world heritage site. Heraklion in Crete is located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is a destination with many attractions including a vibrant city, unique biodiversity, history, and culture,

CLIA teamed with city leaders and port authorities together with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to prepare sustainability assessments and help set foundations for balanced tourism development. The assessments, completed in 2022, looked at destination management, economic benefits, cultural heritage, well-being, environmental protection, and conservation.

Mayor of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, Mrs Meropi Spyridoula Ydraiou: “As most of our generated income comes from tourism, such a perspective will ensure a better living environment and quality of services to residents and visitors.”

Mr Spiridon Zarvopoulos, CEO, Port Authority, Corfu S.A.: “The destination assessment of Corfu is the first step in our holistic plan for tourism management. The port authority will lead the way and work closely with authorities.”

Mr Giorgos Sisamakis, Deputy Mayor for Tourism of Heraklion: “We welcome thousands of visitors every year, and our goal is to offer services that meet the standards of the “Cretan way of life”. The sustainability of Heraklion as a destination is the stake we are determined to win.”

Mr. Minas Papadakis, CEO, Port Authority, Heraklion S.A.: “The assessment is a huge success that confirms our excellent performance so far and reinforces our strategic choice for sustainable tourism development.”