Crete Sets Up Cluster for Promotion of Local Products, Cuisine

  

Showcasing the products of Crete, promoting the world-famous Cretan diet and uniting the island’s productive forces, are the top priorities of the newly formed cluster “Kriti to Nisi Mou” (Crete: My Island).

Through the promotion of the Cretan diet and healthy eating habits, the new entity hopes to encourage wholesome production practices with a focus on organic products. The ultimate goal is to establish Crete as a frontrunner in organic production and agricultural best practices.

To achieve this, the cluster brings to the table stakeholders from all economic sectors who will exchange knowhow and best practices and work together to create value added for local services and products, which will establish Crete into a model tourist destination. 

“Kriti to Nisi Mou” will also be participating in international networks and organizations in order to gain insight, knowledge and experience while joining the global discussion on agricultural practices that respect the environment.

“We are also seeking with the interconnection of all sectors of the economy – primary, secondary (processing) as well as tourism and food and beverages, to contribute to further growth, while increasing jobs,” the entity said in a statement.

 

“Kriti to Nisi Mou” stakeholders said the primary goal was to showcase and promote a healthy agri-food model based on the island’s food culture, biodiversity and excellent climate, with cultivation practices harmonized with EU requirements.

It also hopes to encourage cooperation through incentives to producers for the production of unique-to-the-island products and to hospitality and food providers who will promote the Cretan diet and products at their restaurants and hotels.

(gtp)

Etihad Airways to Connect Crete with Abu Dhabi in June

 

Etihad Airways recently announced that it will launch a seasonal twice-per-week service to the Greek island of Crete, starting June 15.

The flights are set to be operated on an Airbus A320 aircraft and will connect Abu Dhabi to the island’s city of Heraklion.

“Etihad Airways is delighted to provide travellers with more choice for their summer vacations in 2022,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo.

The airline will also return to Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar this summer. All four destinations are set to be operated from mid-June.

“Crete is an ideal summer destination for travellers who are looking for a mix of beach and mountain adventures, and along with the hotspots of Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar, makes for a perfect addition to Etihad’s summer network.”

The airline will launch its Abu Dhabi-Santorini service as of June 16 with three flights per week on an Airbus A320 aircraft.

(gtp)

Media: Greek tourism on course for a new record in 2022

 

Shortly before the start of the summer season, Greece is preparing to open its tourism this year earlier than ever, with the signs pointing to a double-digit increase in bookings from abroad up to 30% for this summer, protothema.gr reports.

And while it is still too early to calculate this year’s tourism revenue, the €15 billion budget forecast by the financial staff for this year seems, now, rather… conservative – provided, of course, that there will be no new reversal of epidemiological data inside and outside Greece – with Greek tourism having all the dynamics to reach the revenue-record of 18.2 billion euros in 2019.

These encouraging projections are coming at a time when Europe as a whole seems more prepared to attempt, following 2.5 years, a partial return to normalcy by gradually lifting restrictions, not only on travel but also on the daily lives of citizens. The signal that our country is giving off to its potential foreign visitors this year is that the country will be able to open from the beginning of March.

Even though the summer itinerary of the airlines, which carry 7 out of 10 foreign visitors to the country with the rest coming by land, is scheduled to start in the majority of the islands from the end of March or the beginning of April onwards, the fact that our country is signaling it is ready again for the 2022 season, this creates a positive climate abroad in terms of planning and organization.

Greek Parliament Lights Up With the Colors of Ukrainian Flag

 

The building of the Hellenic Parliament in Athens lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Saturday evening as a demonstration of solidarity following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“This symbolic initiative expresses both the condemnation of the Russian military invasion in an independent and sovereign country, member of the UN, and our full support to the suffering Ukrainian people,” an announcement said.

Buildings and monuments around the world have been lighting up since Thursday with the colors of the Ukrainian flag to show solidarity.

The fountain of Omonia Square and the building of the Technopolis cultural center in Athens on Friday night also lit up with the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

 (gtp)

Christmas wishes

We wish you Merry Christmas and happy New Year !!

Greece demands COVID-19 tests from all visitors

 ATHENS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Travellers to Greece will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the country as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The measure will be in effect from Dec. 19 and the tests will need to be no more than 48 hours old.

The Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in 77 countries since it was first identified three weeks ago, fuelling concerns that its large number of mutations will help it spread faster and evade protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines or prior infection.

In Britain, at least one person has died after contracting Omicron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the variant.

Reuters

Construction of the longest highway in Europe is underway in Crete

 The first phase of the environmental approval was signed 

 

The modern highway of Crete, which will connect the island from Kissamos to Sitia, and will be the longest highway to be built in Europe on its completion in the upcoming years, is on track after the Ministry of Environment and Energy approved the environmental conditions for the first section of the Northern Road Axis of Crete (VOAK) from Hersonissos to Neapolis, 22.5 km long.

It is one of the largest infrastructure investments that will be implemented in the country in the coming years.

The Decision for the Approval of Environmental Terms (AEPO) was signed by the competent General Directorate of Environmental Policy and is the first step for the implementation of the emblematic project.

This is the first AEPO issued for the “largest new highway to be built in Europe”, as described by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while already the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with a view to environmental protection and its smooth implementation project, is preparing the environmental licensing of the next section of BOAK, from Chania to Heraklion.

(source:proto thema)