Interesting and very informative was the lecture of the Associate Professor at the Department of Tourism Management of the University of Attica and President of the Peloponnese Tourism Organization Dr. Konstantinos Marinakos on the subject of "Oil Tourism".
Dr. Konstantinos Marinakos in the lecture he recently gave in the hall of cultural events of the Achnas Municipal Apartment on the topic of Olive tourism as a new profitable form of tourism.
As mentioned the first factor should include the development of a good relationship and cooperation between private companies operating in specific local contexts with the support of local public actors.
The second factor, he said, is the necessity of creating good partnerships and an effective coordination between public bodies to activate actions and support local development.
For the third factor, he stated that it should consist of a mixed scheme that includes a cluster that combines all of the above: government bodies, commercial associations (olive growers, olive mills, etc.), tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, research institutions, The Cultural Organization "Roads of Olive" (Urban Non-Profit Organization and Agency for Research, Documentation, Rescue, Promotion of Culture Olive) groups of tasters etc.
Therefore, he added, the factors that can influence the protection of the cultural heritage of the olive tree and the development of olive production and related tourism activities in Cyprus are clearly: government agencies, research institutions, the tourist industry, olive farmers and olive mills.
Olive tourism continued to undoubtedly bring about a balance between the three dimensions of long-term sustainability, namely environmental, economic and socio-cultural.
The extra virgin olive oil routes he stressed meet the parameters of sustainability and are another way of advertising olive oil as a tourism product – routes through which visitors can learn about its production process, quality and cultural significance throughout the country.
In addition, he added, the contribution of the state must be emphasized, given that all the supporting legal and institutional framework depends on it, as well as the policies that can create a favorable environment for the preservation and development of olive cultivation and tourism.
"For example, the institutional framework around the visitable olive groves, the policies linked to interventions in land conservation and environmental protection, the promotion of local products and tourism, the creation of touristic-cultural and oenological routes (culinary tourism, wine tourism, olive tourism, etc.) the production of advertising material and activities for the promotion of extra virgin olive oil".
The participation of organizations was noted by Dr. Konstantinos Marinakos such as the "olive roads", in international olive networks active throughout the world (the International Olive Council and the Mediterranean Olive, the Oil Cities Network) opens up invaluable opportunities partnerships for the development of products related to the olive, including of olive tourism.
Cooperation with international organizations linked to the olive is a huge advantage as it can shield protect and further develop olive tourism which otherwise risks, like other forms of special tourism, being isolated and threatened by the current economic crisis or by similar crises in the future.
He also noted the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) logos, which are - institutionally and commercially - the main "tool" established by the EU in order to achieve added value, which can be enjoyed by all stakeholders of the agri-food chain (producers in income, processors/exporters in profit, consumers in quality) can make extra virgin olive oil and the olive a real strong driving force for the development of the local economy and olive tourism, and make olive landscapes attractive tourist attractions.
Through the PDO and PGI logos, he continued, customers could recognize the origin, good quality and authenticity of traditional olive products, and they also legally protect olive oil producers from counterfeiting and misuse of their product brands.
Finally, he pointed out, it is important that the group of tour operators, farmers, olive mills and oil mills, which plays an important role in the protection and development of olive production and olive tourism.
"What is important is to create the special experience, to dare the different and it will pay off for us many times over" concluded Dr. Konstantinos Marinakos.
This was followed by the presentation of the case study of the creation of a three-day olive tourism in the Peloponnese (Corinth, Kalamata, Ancient Olympia). A travel experience dedicated to olive oil in its authentic aroma and Peloponnesian taste.
