Folegandros was visited on Monday, July 21 by the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, as part of her visit to the islands of the Prefectural Government of Thira. During her stay, the Minister met with the Mayor of Folegandros, Kyriakos Marinakis, and they had the opportunity to collaborate and discuss issues of local development and tourism management, with an emphasis on protecting the character of the island and enhancing the tourism product with moderation and balance. This perspective was agreed to serve, among other things, the new governance model of Destination Management and Promotion Organizations - DMMO's, through management actions as well as promotion and visibility of the destination, given that Folegandros, along with Anafi, Ios, Santorini and Sikinos, is part of the cluster of islands that have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, for the establishment and operation of DMMOs. The presence of Olga Kefalogianni underlines, above all else, the importance given by the Ministry to the strengthening of small islands and the promotion of quality, authentic and sustainable tourism.
After the meeting, which was held in an excellent atmosphere, the Minister was given a guided tour of interesting places in Folegandros, in order to give her the opportunity to get to know the natural beauties, the historical and cultural identity, as well as the tourist potential of the island. Olga Kefalogianni, who stated that she was fascinated not only by the abundant beauty, but also by the aura and energy of our island, walked along the picturesque cobblestone streets of Folegandros Town, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved in the Cyclades, where she had the opportunity to chat with locals, to taste local products, to admire the small churches that are “embroidered” in the canvas of the residential fabric of the small town, but also its successive squares, as if taken from a theater set.
The Minister was also given a tour of the Venetian Castle, the original part of the settlement of Chora, which enclosed and protected its residents until the end of the period of piracy in the Aegean. She visited the emblematic I.N. of Pantanassa, which marks the western end of the Castle, as well as one of its most beautiful residences, from where she enjoyed the truly breathtaking view of the endless blue, emphasizing that it is the most beautiful window overlooking the Aegean! Finally, Mrs. Kefalogianni was given a tour of Apano Meria, where she visited, among other things, the landmark area of Chrysopigi, being impressed by the unobstructed view that reaches from Syros and South Evia to the Eastern Peloponnese and Crete. The meeting was attended, in addition to the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, by the Secretary General of Tourism Policy and Development Vasia Koutsoukou, the Director of the Minister's Office Dr. Giorgos Papatzanis, the Mayor of Thira Nikos Zorzos, the President of the Thira Hoteliers' Association Antonis Pagonis and, on the part of Folegandros, in addition to the Mayor Kyriakos Marinakis, the Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure, Networks & Technical Works Antonis Sp. Papadopoulos, the President of the Folegandros Commercial & Tourist Enterprises Association, George Gavalas, and the Publisher of the local newspaper “Ta Nea tis Folegandros” Katerina Marinaki, PhD Candidate in History-Ethnology at the University of Thessaloniki, who guided the Minister and her entourage to the most important sights of the island.
In the photo: The Mayor of Folegandros, Kyriakos Marinakis, and the journalist Katerina Marinaki, flank the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, against the backdrop of the vast blue from the terraces of the iconic “Anemomilos” hotel.
