In September 2024, the city of Kozani (Western Macedonia, Greece) hosted the final study visit of the ECOTOURS project, with the participation of the tourism MSMEs in ECOTOURS. Why Western Macedonia? Because this region, historically known for its coal production, is currently undergoing a significant transition toward a more sustainable economy. The main challenge is to decarbonise and diversify economic activities, with ecotourism seen as a key driver of development.
In Kozani, the ECOTOURS tourism MSMEs participated in three days of discussions and training. These MSMEs operate in sectors such as guided tours, restaurants, adventure parks, and hospitality, with the goal of promoting nature-based experiences, recreational and educational activities, and increasingly immersive forms of tourism. The study visit also highlighted the importance of preserving biodiversity and local traditions, integrating sustainable agricultural production with tourism offerings.
The exchanges between the MSMEs also highlighted the need for cooperation between the public and private sectors, with the aim of developing an integrated tourism model that includes geotourism, ecotourism, gastronomic tourism, and educational tourism too. In this regard, the UNESCO Geopark of Western Macedonia stands as a successful example of regional promotion through geological and natural routes, offering immersive and sustainable experiences to visitors. This example can be replicated in other European countries within the ECOTOURS partnership.
The transformation of Western Macedonia is a model of how a region can evolve, reducing polluting activities such as coal production for a greener future, based on sustainable tourism and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
Stay tuned for more information: https://ecotours-project.eu/
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.