Pilot program mooted for mobile phone tours of sites

Archaeological Receipts Fund requests installation of system

By Iota Sykka - Kathimerini

Guided tours of archaeological sites by text message is one of the projects put forward by the new administration of the Archaeological Receipts Fund (TAP). The aim is to bring in more visitors and revenues. TAP submitted a proposal to the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) to accept an offer by mobile telephony company Wind to run a pilot program. Among the sites in the pilot program are the Kerameikos cemetery, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Panathenaic Stadium, Herod Atticus Theater, Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library and the Ancient Agora.

Passers-by will receive text messages when they are near or in the archaeological sites. An SMS will tell them the name of the site and offer more details for a cost of 3 euros, which will be charged to their accounts. The proceeds will be shared, with Wind turning over half to TAP.

This system will suit visitors in a hurry, but what will the consequences be? “Such a system would compete with tour guides and TAP’s publications,” objected one KAS council member, who requested further information about the possible dangers, while accepting that the use of new technologies was inevitable. Byzantine Museum Director Dimitris Constantios also expressed reservations: “Nobody can avoid the future but if we give permission now, we might find our backs against the wall with other mobile phone companies tomorrow.”

Some members noted that this new form of tour would attract new visitors. KAS General Secretary Christos Zachopoulos described it as a “brilliant” idea, adding that people buy printed guides as souvenirs of a site, not to use as guides during their visit. The new system will not be in competition with the audio guides that TAP has ordered, which are intended for use indoors. Instead, it will be available to foreign visitors whose mobile operators have a roaming agreement with Wind Hellas, and the information will be provided in their own language.The council voted by a majority to request further information before making a decision.