In recent years, through my countless travels to every corner of Greece, I have been blessed to know people and places that may not feature prominently in travel guides, but are the true soul of our homeland.
Every time I arrive in a small village, I stop by the stone courtyards, the old houses, the squares that once teemed with life.
I see closed windows, schools with fewer children, cafes where conversations revolve around the same question: "Will anyone stay here?"
Behind every empty house there is a family, a story, a life that once flourished. And yet, in every corner of this Greece I meet people who persist.
Producers who continue to cultivate the land, young people who have returned to their homeland, women who have created small businesses, people who keep traditions and authentic Greek hospitality alive.
Everyday life is becoming increasingly demanding. Punctuality tests the endurance of every Greek family and for many of our fellow citizens even a few days of vacation are now a difficult financial decision.
At the same time, many small businesses in the region, farmers, livestock breeders, beekeepers and production people are trying daily to respond to increased costs and constantly changing conditions.
Yes, Greek tourism remains one of the most important pillars of our economy and continues to attract millions of visitors from all over the world.
However, as I travel across the country, I find that the benefits of this growth are not reaching everyone in the same way.
There are areas that continue to develop dynamically and others that are still waiting for the opportunity to showcase their unique wealth.
Perhaps this is the moment to turn our gaze again towards the other Greece.
In our villages. In the mountain settlements, in the lakes, in the forests, on the small islands and in the places where hospitality remains authentic, traditions are alive and every visitor becomes part of the everyday life of the place.
Domestic tourism is an essential act of support for local communities.
Every night spent in a family guesthouse, every meal in a small tavern, every purchase of local products strengthens people who choose to remain in their place, to create, invest and continue the history of our villages.
It is now a fact that demographics constitute one of the greatest challenges of our time.
Greece's population is declining, the age composition is changing, and many villages see their yards, schools, and squares emptying year after year. But every village that loses its residents loses with it a piece of our history, tradition, and cultural heritage.
The experience of many European countries shows that addressing demographics requires a comprehensive strategy with continuity, consistency and long-term planning.
Financial incentives are an important first step, but real change comes when young people feel they can plan their future with security and optimism.
Stable employment, decent wages, affordable housing, quality health and education services, access to childcare and real opportunities to create their lives and families in the place they love are the basic conditions for keeping the Greek region alive.
Greece has all the resources to follow this path.
Support for the new family, tax incentives for those who choose to live, work and invest in the region, the strengthening of primary production, access to affordable housing for young couples, modern infrastructure, investments in health, education and digital connectivity can create a new environment of growth and perspective.
At the same time, in order for tourism to be sustainable, it must be intrinsically linked to local production, culture, gastronomy and the authentic experiences of each place. It can create new jobs, strengthen local economies and give our villages another reason to remain alive.
Because when the region gains opportunities, young people choose to stay, return, start a family and invest their future where their roots lie.
The #other #Greece doesn't ask for more.
He asks for the opportunity to showcase what he already has.
Its unique natural beauty, its culture, its gastronomy, its production and, above all, its people.
Every journey I take in this country convinces me even more that its greatest strength lies in local communities.
In the smile of a grandmother who opens her home to the visitor.
To the young man who decided to return to cultivate his grandfather's land. To the family who keeps a small guesthouse open because they believe in their place.
This is the other Greece that I know and love.
A Greece 🇬🇷 that deserves to be filled again with children's voices, creativity and optimism. A Greece that deserves to be supported, choosing to get to know it again, to travel to every corner of it and to invest, each in their own way, in our common future.
Because every time we keep a Greek village alive, we keep the very soul of our homeland alive.
