Angela Gerekou | “Anthismenes Diadromes” Become a Reality

The Ministry of Digital Governance has included the project “Digitization of Tourist Content of Anthismenes Diadromes in Greece” in the “Digital Transformation 2021-2027” program, with a budget of €862,920, as revealed by Tornos News on August 5th.

Angela Gerekou, former President of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), expressed her satisfaction with this initiative today in an official statement, noting that she envisioned and actively promoted it.

Full Statement:

“I am especially happy that a project I envisioned and worked on consistently over recent years during my tenure as President of the Greek National Tourism Organization is now coming to life through GNTO.

It was a personal vision, a personal challenge. A meaningful tool to highlight the ‘Other Greece’ — the authentic, experiential, and less publicized Greece.

The ‘Anthismenes Diadromes’ (Flowering Routes) of Lafcadio Hearn are not just a tourism project.

They represent a new approach to showcasing the natural and cultural beauty of the Greek countryside through modern technology and thematic tourism strategy.

From the beginning, our goal was to give true life to every corner of Greece through a digital tool that highlights seasonal flowering, local production, gastronomy, and the experiential offerings of each place.

The project has already been piloted with positive and measurable results:

In Orestiada, with the lavender and the ‘Aroma of Evros’ initiative, which for the fourth consecutive year is established as an institution creating a new landmark for alternative tourism in Eastern Thrace.

In Pieria, with the Flowering Cherry Trees, in close collaboration with Regional Deputy Governor Ms. Sofia Mavridou and the Municipality of Pydna-Kolindros, the Flowering Cherry Festival was held for the second consecutive year in Rachi and Kolindros, confirming the tourism potential and clear identity of this new thematic product.

I would like to warmly thank:

Former Minister of Digital Governance, now Minister of Finance, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, with whom this idea began to take shape.

Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, who embraced the project already during his tenure as President of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), and today, through his will and the contribution of the Ministry’s responsible services, officially integrated it into funding tools.

My colleagues at GNTO: former Secretary-General Mr. Dimitris Fragkakis, current Secretary-General Mr. Andreas Fiorentino, General Director Ms. Sofia Lazaridou, Advertising Director Ms. Eleni Mitraki, as well as Mr. Ilias Tzoras for his contribution to research documentation.

I thank all my collaborators who worked with dedication, faith, and passion — because without a team, you go nowhere.

Today, we no longer talk about an idea — we talk about its implementation. And that is the greatest satisfaction.

Because Greece is not only tourism, it is experience, emotion, and authenticity.

And that is the challenge we win together.”