Destination Management Plan phases

May - June 2019 (completed)

In May 2019, the tourism research phase began with the first round of exploratory contacts with local bodies in Rhodes and Santorini. The Situation Analysis, finalised in June, summarised the main findings of these activities based on the following indicative modules:

• Review of the latest trends shaping the framework of tourism development in the two destinationsMapping of local bodies
• Analysis of tourism supply and demand for each destinationInitial evaluation of the destination’s tourism products and experiences in relation to the characteristics of target markets
• Review of existing destination management practices in the two destinations
• Review of good destination management practices from within Greece and abroad etc.

June - August 2019 (completed)

Public consultation took place on the basis of a wide range of actions (e.g., working meetings and workshops with interactive modules, online questionnaires, interviews, site visits to popular attractions), offering local authorities, the business community and representatives of other social groups to have their say on various issues. Some of the questions that determined the content of the public consultation are as follows:

• What is the vision for tourism development in Rhodes and Santorini through 2025?
• What characteristics need to be further highlighted in order to develop experiential travel activities, upgrade the destination’s identity and attract appropriate target markets?
• What are the main needs of the two destinationsWhat issues need to be resolved in order to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism development?
• How should the management and promotion of destinations be organised in the long term, and what partnerships can make a more substantial contribution in this direction?

August - September 2019 (comlpeted)

The completion of the public consultation marked the start of the drafting of the destination management plans, with all of the research findings to hand. The structure and modules of the plans is based on good practices from abroad as well as the guidelines of international experts collaborating with the consortium of consultants on the project.

Once proceedings were completed, destination management plans for Rhodes and Santorini were submitted along with a destination management planning guide for the development of similar plans for other destinations in Greece.

September - October 2019 (completed)

The draft plans were presented in meetings with local bodies with a view to gathering comments and observations. This stage was vital as it provided further impetus for public debate. It also contributed to the convergence of stakeholders on key strategic directions.

All stakeholders who actively supported the implementation of the pilot project, namely the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Ministry of Tourism and the Chambers of Commerce of the Cyclades and Dodecanese, played a key role through their observations during this stage.

October 2019 (completed)

The two Destination Management Plans were presented to the local communities of Rhodes and Santorini at the end of October. Furthermore, the  guide to destination management planning was presented in Chania (Crete) and Athens on October 30-31.