A two-day, High-level Conference on Coastal and Maritime Tourism opened yesterday, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organization, and the European Commission as part of the Greek EU Presidency (10-11.03). The event is bringing together industry, stakeholders, and policy makers. The conference was followed by an informal Ministerial meeting chaired by Ms Kefalogianni and panel sessions on sustainability and dialogue in the sector, and growth and innovation for the blue economy.

The implementation of the Blue Growth Agenda focusing, among others, on coastal and maritime tourism of EU member-states will play a decisive role in the creation of more jobs in Europe and Greece, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said yesterday, at the Acropolis Museum. She reiterated that tourism is pivotal in exiting the crisis, and emphasized that tourism corresponds to 10% of Europe's GDP.

Addressing the conference, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs & Fisheries Maria Damanaki said that coastal and maritime tourism is the “backbone” of the coastal economy with roughly 3 million jobs, adding that 4 out of 9 travelers choose these regions for their holidays.

The conference continues today at the Museum of Cycladic Art, when 300 companies come together for business to business sessions on food processing and aquaculture, blue biotechnology, energy, ICT and tourism, as well as a conference on "Intense Οn-line Marketing and New Tools: Challenges and Perspectives."

More information: Conference Agenda