Second Stakeholder Event in Crete, Greece
The second Cretan Regional Stakeholders’ Meeting "DETOCS – DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support" project took place on Friday, 23 February 2024, with stakeholders both physically and virtually present at CIHEAM-MAICh. The meeting was held within the framework of the Interreg Europe Programme, in which CIHEAM-MAICh and the Region of Crete are both participating from Crete, Greece. The DETOCS project is co-financed by the European Union as well as national resources and concerns the improvement of policies for the decarbonisation of the tourism industry with an emphasis on hotel facilities in Crete.
The meeting was attended by various stakeholders from academic and research institutions, as well as public and private bodies. Specifically, Mr. Angelakis Georgios from CIHEAM-MAICh presented the methodology and goals of the DETOCS project, highlighting expected results and the progress made so far. The external collaborator in the project, Mr. Vourdoubas Ioannis, followed up by referring to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified through the regional SWOT analysis, as well as the social, economic, environmental, political, technological and legal issues, identified via the PESTEL analysis, within the energy and tourism sector in Crete. Mr. Lygouris Konstantinos and Mr. Konstantinos Georgios from the consulting company, Innoveco, then presented a platform for measuring the carbon footprint of hospitality spaces.
The following delegates were also present: from the Region of Crete, Mrs. Apostolaki Maria, Mrs. Vavadaki Katerina and Mr. Papastefanakis Nikolaos; from the Municipality of Heraklion, Mr. Fotakis Emmanuel; from the Municipality of Rethymnon, Mr. Gasparakis Konstantinos; from the Municipality of Platanias, Mayor Mr. Malandrakis Ioannis and Mrs. Litou Katerina; from the Municipality of Apokoronou, Mr. Stavroulakis Stavros; from the Economic Chamber of Western Crete, the President Mr. Petsetakis Pantelis; from the Chamber of Chania, Mr. Mountakis Dimitrios; from the Federation of Professional Craftsmen and Merchants of the Prefecture of Chania, the President Mr. Pavlakis Ioannis; from the Union of Hoteliers of Heraklion, Mr. Foulakis Nikolaos; from the Union of Hoteliers of Chania, Mr. Stamatakis Emmanuel; from the Federation of Entrepreneurs of Tourist Accommodation of the Prefecture of Chania “APTERA”, the President Proimos Konstantinos; from Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A, Mr. Plokamakis Georgios; from the Technical University of Crete, Prof. Zopounidis Konstantinos; from the University of Crete, Mr. Drakos Periklis; from the Orthodox Academy of Crete, Mr. Kalogerakis Antonios; from the Environmental Education Center of Vamos, Mr. Pontikakis Fotios; and Mr. Lavoutas Emmanuel from the Heating and Air Conditioning Center.
The Interreg Europe DETOCS project began on 1 March 2023 and has a duration of four years. Apart from CIHEAM-MAICh and the Region of Crete, other partners from across Europe are also participating in this project to ensure knowledge exchange of experiences and good practices related to the decarbonisation of the tourism sector post-Covid.