At the 11th Patras for Europe, precision, regional improvement: "Our folks deserve far more"
– 2024-06-04 18:02:43″>Regional Growth Conference, which is taking place again this year at the Conference and Cultural Center of the University of Patras, critical issues concerning the future of the region of the entire country are approached.
The Conference that was held for the first time in 2012 has evolved into an institution that tackles the important challenges faced by the Greek regions. It offers the opportunity to reflect and address issues related to Greece‘s regional policy, strengthening the regional economy, stimulating growth and employment.
The debate on upgrading the Greek tourism product in a sustainable way, which is based on the development of strategies in the hospitality industry after the end of the pandemic, was of interest. Commented on how sustainable investment can lead to sustainable regional development. Spilios Livanos, head of the Greek delegation to the CS-NATO, stated that everything around us is related to tourism.
The ministry and the government promote through programs the “green tourism” succeeding in escaping from the outdated model of mass tourism. For his part, Andreas Filias, deputy regional governor of finance in the region of Western Greece, referring to the ways that can promote sustainable tourism, emphasized the uniqueness of the Western region, which is the only one that, having used European money, created digital museums that are a great attraction for tourists as well as the digital tour program. In similar ways aimed at digital transformation, tourism in Greece can become a model at a global level.
Coordinator
Georgios Eugenidis, TV Presenter, STAR CHANNEL, Journalist “Proto Thema”
The discussion was attended by:
Spilios Livanos, head of the Greek Delegation to the CS-NATO
Andreas Filias, Deputy Regional Governor of Finance, Western Greece Region
Alexandros Angelopoulos, CEO, Aldemar
Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris, Director of IMET/EKETA
Elsa Exarchou, Managing Director, Branding Greece
Katerina Saridaki, Director of Capsule T Accelerator
Angeliki Mitropoulou, Scientific Associate of the Institute for Alternative Policies (ENA) in the fields of tourism
#Upgrading #tourism #product #sustainable
How do the discussions about infrastructure development and innovation relate to the conference’s focus on disaster recovery and regional resilience?
## Interview with RGC Attendee
**Interviewer:** We’re here today at the 11th Regional Growth Conference (RGC) in Patras. Can you tell us a bit about the purpose of this conference and why it’s so important this year?
**Attendee:** Absolutely! The RGC is a critical platform for discussing the future of Greek regions. Since its inception in 2012 [[1](https://rgc.gr/)], it’s become a vital space for leaders from various sectors – government, industry, non-profits – to come together and tackle the pressing challenges facing our country. This year, in light of the recent natural disasters, the conference is more important than ever.
**Interviewer:** How do the discussions here directly address the impact of these disasters?
**Attendee:** The conference offers a forum to discuss rebuilding strategies, economic recovery efforts, and long-term resilience planning for our regions. We’re looking at ways to not only recover but also build back stronger and more sustainably.
**Interviewer:** What are some of the key topics being discussed at this year’s conference?
**Attendee:** Beyond disaster recovery, we’re also focusing on broader regional policy issues, like infrastructure development, innovation, and attracting investment. The RGC plays a crucial role in shaping Greece’s regional development agenda, and the insights shared here will have a real impact on the future of our communities.
