Greece Unveils First National Strategy for Mountain Tourism: A 365-Day Vision

For decades, Greece’s tourism model has been synonymous with “Sun and Beach.” However, the Greek Ministry of Tourism, led by Minister Olga Kefalogianni, recognized that relying solely on the summer months is no longer sustainable in an era of climate change and overtourism.

The new National Strategy is a comprehensive roadmap to diversify the Greek tourism product. The goal is simple but ambitious: to make Greece a top-tier destination for 365 days a year. By highlighting the mountains, Greece can alleviate the pressure on popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos while breathing economic life into remote, high-altitude villages that have long been overlooked.

The Strategic Pillars: Infrastructure and Innovation

The strategy is built on four core pillars designed to modernize the mountain experience while preserving its pristine nature.

Modernizing Ski Resorts

Greece is home to 21 ski centers, many of which sit on the cusp of world-class potential. The strategy allocates significant funding for:

• Digital Upgrades: Implementing smart ticketing and real-time snow tracking apps.
• Infrastructure: Replacing aging lifts and enhancing snow-making capabilities to counter shorter winters.
• Four-Season Utility: Transforming ski centers into “Mountain Activity Hubs” that offer mountain biking, paragliding, and alpine slides during the summer months.

The Hiking and Climbing Network

Greece boasts some of the most historic trails in the world, including parts of the E4 European long-distance path. The strategy focuses on:

• Unified Signage: Standardizing trail markings across the Pindus and Olympus ranges.
• Safety & Maintenance: Creating a national registry for certified mountain guides and establishing mountain rescue points.
• The “Olympus Experience”: A specific sub-project to enhance the infrastructure around Mount Olympus, ensuring that the “Throne of Zeus” remains accessible yet ecologically protected.

Sustainability: Protecting the “Green Heart”

One of the most humanized aspects of the strategy is its commitment to “Soft Tourism.” The Ministry is not looking to build mega-resorts. Instead, the focus is on supporting the local “Agrotourism” ecosystem.

• Traditional Guest Houses: Financial incentives are being provided to locals to restore stone-built mansions into boutique guest houses.
• Local Gastronomy: Linking mountain tourism with the “Mountain Diet”—promoting high-altitude honey, herbs, and cheeses that are unique to specific peaks.
• Renewable Energy: Encouraging mountain accommodations to switch to biomass or geothermal energy to minimize their carbon footprint in sensitive ecosystems.

The Economic Impact: Reversing Rural Flight

Beyond the vistas, this strategy is about people. Many mountainous regions in Greece have suffered from “brain drain,” as young people move to Athens or abroad for work. By creating a year-round tourism season, the government hopes to:

• Create over 15,000 new jobs in rural areas by 2030.
• Increase regional GDP in Northern Greece and Central Peloponnese by 12%.
• Support local artisans and farmers who can sell their products directly to an international audience.

Who is the “Mountain Traveler”?

The strategy specifically targets “High-Value Travelers”—those who prioritize wellness, adventure, and authenticity over mass-market luxuries.

• The Digital Nomad: Creating high-speed internet hubs in mountain villages like Metsovo and Arachova.
• The Wellness Enthusiast: Promoting the therapeutic benefits of mountain air and forest bathing in the lush forests of Karpenisi.
• The History Buff: Highlighting the Byzantine monasteries and ancient paths that crisscross the Greek highlands.

Conclusion: The Ascent Begins

The National Strategy for Mountain Tourism is a bold declaration that Greece is more than a postcard of a blue dome against a white wall. It is a land of vertical challenges, ancient forests, and a “mountain hospitality” (philoxenia) that is as warm as any island welcome.

As we move toward 2026, the first projects—funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)—will begin to take shape. For the traveler who has seen the Parthenon and swam in the Aegean, the mountains are the final frontier. It is time to look up; the gods are still on Olympus, and they are finally ready for visitors.

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