30 years of PROTOUR | Anniversary event for the visionaries of Rhodes Tourism

The Rhodes Tourism Promotion Organization (PROTOUR) – a model and innovative body that united local stakeholders and made a significant contribution to the tourism development of Rhodes – celebrates 30 years since its establishment. This important milestone was the occasion for the Municipality of Rhodes and the current PROTOUR Administration to organize an anniversary event under the motto:
“Love for Rhodes – Respect for the Past – Responsibility for the Future.”

On the evening of Friday, October 3rd, at the Rhodes Casino, this commemorative event served as a tribute to the journey, the work, and the legacy of the Organization. The decisive contribution of the pioneers of Rhodes tourism was emphatically highlighted, along with the people of local government and the entities that collaborated to establish the island’s international tourism identity and secure Rhodes’ place among the top tourist destinations in the world.

The evening included a retrospective of PROTOUR’s 30-year journey and achievements, as well as honorary awards to the founding members of PROTOUR who laid the foundations for this historic path.

It was one of those rare moments where people who left an indelible mark on the “tourism miracle” of Rhodes came together in one place — visionaries and pioneers of PROTOUR alongside those continuing their efforts today, fighting for the constant improvement, promotion, and sustainable development of Rhodes tourism.

There was particular emotion during the mention and honorary remembrance of those who are no longer with us — past members and executives of PROTOUR whose contributions shaped the Organization’s path. As a sign of respect and gratitude, a minute of silence was observed in their memory.

In his speech, the Mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, emphasized PROTOUR’s enduring contribution to tourism development, praised those who served the institution, and underlined the critical role it can continue to play in the present and future of Rhodes tourism. Mr. Koliadis said:

“Today we celebrate 30 years of PROTOUR and 30 years of contribution to Rhodes tourism. It all began in 1996, with then-Mayor Giorgos Giannopoulos, who recognized the need and united the efforts of local government members, institutions, and entrepreneurs to create an organization that gave Rhodes a unified voice. Every municipal authority since then has supported this model organization. Hadzis Hatziefthymiou, Stathis Kousournas, the late Fotis Hatzidiakos, and Antonis Kampourakis – each left their own mark.

Let me take a moment to refer to Fotis Hatzidiakos, from whom I inherited the presidency. He contributed greatly to PROTOUR as president, and to our island in general. We remember him always with respect. For me, it was both an honor and a responsibility to continue his work.

Not everyone is here tonight. Some people who worked hard for PROTOUR and offered so much to our island are missing. We do not forget them. I also want to mention the late Charalambos Palogiannidis. As Director, he was the soul of PROTOUR. He always found solutions to problems and worked with integrity and devotion. He knew how to collaborate with everyone, always aiming for the good of Rhodes. We remember him with gratitude.

The late Giorgos Karagiannis also played a key role, supporting the initiative from the start as President of the Chamber of Commerce.”

He then referred to his own term as President of the Organization, noting that PROTOUR can still serve as a valuable tool for the development of Rhodes tourism by addressing today’s needs and challenges. He stated:

“Personally, I served as President during the term of Mayor Antonis Kampourakis, and I remember our participation in tourism exhibitions, hosting foreign journalists on our island, and much more. We were a united team, and I felt the true meaning of collaboration and the power of speaking with one unified voice. These experiences still stay with me today.

PROTOUR has always had presidents and boards that worked with responsibility and dedication – all left their own imprint. Today, the President is Giorgos Toppos, who represents the new generation of tourism professionals on our island. I want to thank all PROTOUR staff who work daily to keep the organization alive. Thirty years later, it is now our responsibility to continue what began back then, to evolve it, and to give the Organization new perspective. PROTOUR is our tool for the future — to keep tourism strong, to support our community, and to keep Rhodes at the top.”

Honorary plaques to founding members and early staff

After the mayor’s speech, the anniversary event concluded with the presentation of honorary plaques to the founding members and first executives of PROTOUR (or to the relatives of those who have passed away). Specifically, plaques were awarded to:

Giorgos Giannopoulos, Vassos Minaidis, Georgios Karagiannis (deceased), Ioannis Iatridis, Nikolaos Tsikkis (deceased), Simos Paraskevas (deceased), Kalliopi Machrama, Georgios Mantalis, Konstantinos Skandalidis, Loukas Kanakis, Vasileios Kritikos (deceased), Stergos Koukias (deceased), Kyriakos Finas (deceased), Dimitrios Zannetoulis, Philemon Karikis, Efstathios Vassilakis (deceased), Andreas Karagiannis (deceased), Tsampikos Moschatos, Stefanos Dimitras (deceased), Konstantinos Ntouvis, Stergos Kyprios, Ioannis Manolas, Ioannis Giannakakis, Georgios Katsikandai (deceased), Miltiadis Logothetis, Charalambos Palogiannidis (deceased), and Giannis Fotis.

Attendees of the event

The event was honored by the presence of:

His Grace Bishop of Olympos, Kyrillos

Father Loukas, representative of the Catholic Archdiocese in Rhodes

Rhodes Imam, Hasan Kara Ali

Former Deputy Minister and Dodecanese MP, Manos Konsolas

Former Deputy Minister and Dodecanese MP, Giorgos Nikitiadis

Dean of Parliament and Dodecanese MP, Vasilis Ypsilantis

Regional Vice Governor of Culture, President of the Dodecanese Association of Travel Agencies, and Secretary General of the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce, Christos Michalakis

Commander of the 95th Higher National Guard Battalions Command (95 ADTE), Major General Spyros Kogiannis

Chief of the 1st Police Directorate of the Dodecanese, Brigadier General Konstantinos Souliotis

Deputy Port Authority Chief of Rhodes, Commander Theodoros Paralemos

Former MP and former Mayor of Rhodes, Stathis Kousournas

President of the Municipal Council of Rhodes, Kyriakos Kassapis

Deputy Mayor of Tourism, Culture, and President of PROTOUR, Giorgos Toppos

Deputy Mayor of Lindos, Nikos Pavlakidis

Deputy Mayor of Communications, Giorgos Pattas

President of DERM.AE., Valantis Lampis

President of the Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese, Vasilis Vayiannakis

President of the Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes and President of the Rhodes Municipal Community, Sousana Kardoulia

Head of the main opposition in the Municipal Council of Rhodes and former Mayor, Antonis Kampourakis

Head of the regional party “Open Horizons in the South Aegean,” Chrysa Karagianni

CEO of PROTOUR, Anastasios Konstantaros

General Director of PROTOUR, Dionysis Tsiligiris

Representative of the Rhodes Hotel Association, Pantelis Kostaridis

President of the Rhodes Trade Association, Kostas Spanos

President of the Dodecanese Hotel Managers Association, Giorgos Matsingos

Vice Rector of the University of the Aegean, Ioannis Seimenis

Mrs. Agapi Hatzidiakou, wife of the late Mayor Fotis Hatzidiakos

Former mayors, representatives of local institutions, and members of the Security Forces.

Messages of greeting were sent by:

Dodecanese MP Mika Iatridi

MP and former EU Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos