Orestiada, Didymoteicho, and Soufli join forces for tourism development

Orestiada, Soufli, and Didymoteicho are three distinctive destinations in northern Evros, combining the magic of nature with the rich cultural heritage of Thrace. Each of these places has unique elements, from the traditions of Soufli in silk weaving to the historical importance of Didymoteicho and the modern life of Orestiada. Together, they offer a unique experience to visitors who wish to discover the hidden corners of Greece.

To this end, the municipalities of Orestiada, Didymoteicho, and Soufli have applied for their designation as Model Tourist Destinations of Integrated Management, proceeding to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation for this purpose.

In particular, the designation of an area as a Model Integrated Tourism Destination is based mainly on criteria such as the particular natural characteristics of the area, the natural geomorphological environment, the possibility of developing specific forms of tourism, the degree of adequacy and the level of accessibility for people with disabilities and reduced mobility in tourist infrastructure, the integrity of the road network, the proximity to ports and airports, the ratio of the total capacity of the destination in beds to the permanent population within the geographical boundaries of the destination, the average annual occupancy of the destination's tourist accommodations, as well as the scope of the tourist season.

Within the framework of their cooperation, the municipalities of Orestiada, Didymoteicho, and Soufli will provide all support for the collection of the required data concerning their areas, with a view to documenting the designation request.

These elements may concern natural resources that constitute poles of attraction such as sights, beaches, mountains-forests, lakes, rivers, gorges and caves, cultural resources, material and intangible, that are of interest to visitors, such as Temples and Monasteries, Archaeological - historical sites and Monuments, Museums and Mansions, Intangible cultural heritage such as local traditions, customs and traditions, buildings of architectural value, traditional and non-traditional, cultural events and festivals.

Also, the municipalities will support activities that would interest visitors, such as walking trails, cycling routes, climbing, sailing, other sports activities, educational programs, arts, as well as local products and/or services that would interest visitors, such as agricultural products, local dishes and drinks, thermal baths, guided tours, boat rentals, etc.

Furthermore, data will be collected such as, for example, transport hubs within 100 kilometers of the destination, such as ports, airports, railways, national roads, number and capacity of accommodation by accommodation category such as hotels, rooms, camping and short-term rental, number of restaurants and entertainment outlets and tourist businesses, approximately, other infrastructures related to tourism development such as academic institutions, conference centers, sports centers, marinas and others.

In the context of collecting the required data, a simple registration of the entities involved in tourism in the area will also be made and basic tourism statistics will be extracted, if available, such as arrivals, overnight stays, and accommodation occupancy.

Among other things, access to funds from the Ministry of Tourism and other resources of the Public Investment Program for tourism development, as well as the recognition that the above areas will receive, once they officially and institutionally acquire the status of Model Tourist Destination and the ability to utilize it as a marketing tool, are expected to particularly benefit their tourism development.

Finally, access to specialized, organized, systematic and scientific technical support, as well as the ability to network with other Model Tourist Destinations at national and international level, the ability to submit funding proposals to European programs, as well as the ability to participate in international competitions concerning Model Tourist Destinations, can contribute substantially, accelerating the overall development of the region.

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