EPAITHROS RURAL TOURISM CLUSTER
About this good practice
Epaithros Rural Tourism Cluster, based in Crete, is Greece's first rural tourism cluster with nationwide reach. Its goal is to promote sustainable development for its members while enhancing rural tourism at local, regional, and national levels. The cluster aims to diversify tourism services, improve competitiveness, strengthen its reputation, and enrich the tourism experience, positioning Greece as a top rural tourism destination.
The cluster seeks to increase awareness of Greece as a rural tourism destination, upgrade the quality of products and services offered by its members, and evolve into a rural tourism support and management agency.
Key strategies include networking and synergy by facilitating collaboration among members to create a supportive ecosystem, operational support by providing resources and best practices to enhance service quality, innovation and promotion by developing high-quality services and marketing them globally, and personalized experiences by crafting unique experiences tailored to visitor needs.
Implementation efforts focus on capacity-building programs to improve service delivery, collaborations with local communities and stakeholders, market research to track industry trends, and sustainable practices to preserve Greece's cultural and natural heritage.
Epaithros Rural Tourism Cluster aims to position Greece as a leading rural tourism destination, offering authentic and sustainable experiences for travelers worldwide.
Resources needed
The project was funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation under the 1st Call for Innovation Cooperatives – Supporting Body, with a total of 199,000 euros. The introduction of an annual membership contribution is being explored, following recommendations in the business plan.
Evidence of success
The network has 66 members and participated twice (2023 & 2024) in the “Innovation Days” exhibition in Crete. It attended over 10 public events and created 12 informational videos showcasing initiatives and services. With a strong social media presence, it organized 4 workshops on key topics, held a B2B event and publishes a quarterly newsletter. Three field surveys were conducted, and its website had attracted 10,000+ visitors from various countries between 22/5/2024 – 05/12/2024.
Potential for learning or transfer
The expansion of content, including destinations and experiences, along with the inclusion of new members in the open (B2C) area, is considered a top priority. This phased approach will allow for an initial experimental operation, followed by comprehensive implementation across other regions of Greece and internationally, such as in Cyprus. Publicity, promotion, and informational activities are an integral part of the cluster's initiatives, supporting and enhancing rural tourism, as well as the businesses and organizations that contribute to its development.
Further information
Good practice owner
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