Ambitious agritourism bill in Parliament soon
The Agricultural Development Ministry will concede plots of public land for the realization of agritourism investment plans, in the context of the draft law for the foundation of the «Greek Countryside Tourism Organization – Agritourism,» Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia stated at Ioannina. Speaking at the first Pan-European Agritourism Forum, Palli-Petralia said that until just a few years ago agritourism had been an unknown tourism model in Greece, but now it is one of the most promising factors in promoting greater tourism and more balanced development of the Greek countryside. Countryside tourism in Greece can be associated with mountaineering in one region, watersports in another and visits to archaeological sites in another, highlighting the wealth of possibilities this country can offer, even for the most demanding visitors. The proposed organization is aimed at protecting local identity and promoting a national policy for alternative tourism initiatives, Palli-Petralia said. With the development of agritourism and certain initiatives of the ministry, the region of Epirus and particularly the prefecture of Ioannina have risen to the top in the number of companies promoting agritourism programs, as they will soon outstrip the existing 102, Palli-Petralia said.
