Written by Loukas Dimakas
Delphi, Saint Luke, martyred Distomo, Orchomenos, etc. were left out of the program of the visit of Polish journalists and an airline representative, organized by the Region of Central Greece.
As part of a recent fam trip, guests from leading Polish media outlets were given a tour of seven destinations in Evia, Thebes and Kamena Vourla. The aim of the Region's action, as reported in relevant reports, was to promote Central Greece in the Polish market.
However, the choice of destinations raises reasonable questions. Not about the choices of destinations (they were fine), but about the… omissions! Well, weren’t there other places throughout Central Greece that also had their monuments or goodies to show off? Shouldn’t the competent authorities have sought “bridges” that would more effectively connect the two places?
How did the responsible Deputy Governor for Tourism, Fani Papathoma, and her colleagues (or others above) select only these – by what criteria, that is – and exclude others?
How is it possible that the Navel of the Earth, Delphi, the Byzantine Monastery of Saint Luke and – above all – the martyred Distomo are absent from such a journey? Let us explain that Distomo – so that the undersigned is not accused of… localism by the “acquaintances” who will rush once again to vary this “candy” – is not just another archaeological-historical site: It is a place of martyrdom during World War II, a pan-Hellenic and pan-European symbol of crimes against humanity by the Nazis and anti-fascism and, to get to the point, a symbol of common memory and the continuous claim for compensation with Poland!
It is in fact the most active place in Greece where citizens and local government (along with the Region, in fact) are demanding, through legal and political means, compensation for the victims from Germany, an issue that also strongly concerns Polish public opinion - and not only.
The references in the Polish, Greek and generally European press to these claims are also indicative of the potential interest of Polish visitors/tourists in the history of Distomo! The data itself – which was ignored by the planners of the tour of Polish journalists and tourist agents – speak for themselves:
* More than 5-6 groups of Polish students (with 20-25 members each) have come to Greece as part of the Erasmus exchange program and have visited the Mausoleum and the Museum of Victims of Nazism of Distomo in recent months and have been informed by the archaeologist, coordinator of the Museum, about the entire historical context of memory and advocacy.
* Just in recent weeks, a large group of Greek Poles, children of political refugees in this country ("Greeks abroad" in a more literal pronunciation of the term), made the same journey of remembrance and honor and showed the bonds that were in fact born of a common fate as victims of Nazism.
These trips even have opposite directions:
* Three years ago, a delegation from the martyred Distomo, at the municipal level, was invited by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to several days of official speaking events and visits to places of martyrdom in the context of strengthening common memory! These, as examples, show that much is being done but without a comprehensive plan that includes historical and political aspects, even – to put it bluntly (but in any case far from the goal written) – without a coherent tourist-commercial strategy.
In light of these facts, the decision not to include Distomo in the Polish program is at least paradoxical. It shows a lack of strategic thinking that combines tourist promotion with historical memory and cultural diplomacy.
The Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism is reportedly concerned, according to relevant reports, that the Polish market should be an important target for the Region. Quite rightly so. However, to succeed in this field, comprehensive planning is needed and not piecemeal actions that leave out the strongest players in the region.
Roumeli has a lot to show. We just need to learn to present it correctly in every market. And we say this with pain, with evidence: A few years ago, during a visit to a tourist exhibition in the capital of Orthodox Russia, the authorities of the Region, instead of promoting (also) the "Hagia Sophia of Roumeli", Saint Luke, were limited to two ski resorts...—-
*Loukas Dimakas is a journalist, member of ESIEA, member of the National Council for the Claim of German Debts in Greece (ESDOGE), resident of Distomo.
photo Shutterstock
