2024-04-29 22:19:36
Proposals as well as problems of the individual professional branches, related to tourism, were highlighted during the meeting held at the initiative of the vice-mayor of Tourism of the Municipality of Ioannita and aimed at creating and promoting an enriched tourist product for the city and beyond.
The need for everyone’s cooperation to promote the destination, but also to provide the best possible services to visitors, was emphasized at the beginning of the meeting by the deputy mayor Christos Tatsis and the mayor’s special advisor Stefanos Zervas.
“We must build on the next day, setting realistic goals and implementing actions appropriate for our region, so that they lead us to the desired result. In this way we will be able to demonstrate creative professionalism, focused on the quality of the product and the services offered”, noted Mr. Tatsis.
The involvement of everyone in this effort, as a “bad image” can have an impact on the entire region, Mr. Zervas requested, for his part.
Taking the floor, the communication officer of the Chamber of Ioannina Kostas Kyritsis, who participated in the meeting with the member of the administration Alexandros Gorgolis, emphasized on the one hand the need to prepare a comprehensive study for the tourism of the region, as well as the creation of an agency, with the participation of all those involved, which will also be reflected in a financial contribution towards the promotion and promotion of the destination. At the same time, he asked for the “integration” of local products, with their stronger presence in restaurants.
A series of proposals and requests to the Municipality of Ioannina was submitted on behalf of the Union of Hoteliers of the Prefecture of Ioannina by its secretary Theodoros Vandolas. Among other things, he requested the reduction of the cost of water use for businesses, the creation of a register for short-term rental accommodation, the planning of events as well as the presence at exhibitions, the resolution of issues related to the stopping and parking of tourist buses, and the use of mini bus. At the same time, he repeated proposals that have been submitted for the inclusion of the Castle in UNESCO, the creation of a new, modern cultural space, the creation of energy communities to “shield” and tourist businesses from the increase in energy costs.
Both Mr. Vantolas and the vice-chancellor of the University of Ioannina, Xenophon Bitsikas, asked for a calendar of events to be created, so that they could inform visitors and students in turn. At the same time, he noted that many research projects, which have been implemented with the cooperation of the University and the Municipality, have been “lost” after their end, as there is no follow-up that could have been.
The president of the Catering Association, Dimitris Tatsis, attributed the lack of staff, among other problems facing the restaurant, to the fact that several shops remain closed during holidays and holidays, which Mr. Zervas pointed out, while he also referred to cleanliness, but also to the obstacles faced by professionals at the Castle, due to the strict limitations of archaeology.
The president of the TAXI Association of Ioannina Prefecture “Neomartys Georgios” Michalis Psinas requested digital material for the promotion of the city on the tablets that TAXIS have, noting also issues related to markings and cleanliness in the taxi ranks.