The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Ioannis Kefalogiannis, on Tuesday 14 December, met the Deputy Minister of Tourism Mrs Elena Rapti.
The subject of the meeting was the promotion of cooperation between the two Ministries, in order to protect, showcase and promote visits to museums of military interest, clubs, memorials, areas, relics and locations where wartime events have taken place, as well as their wider background. They also discussed the creation of tourist souvenirs for attracting these tourist markets.
The priority is the development of effective strategies and actions for improving historical locations and memorials of military character, by rendering them more recognisable and attractive to visitors as tourist destinations, as well as their organic integration in the country’s wider tourist and development politics. In the context of the bilateral meeting it was decided to create a Joint Coordination
Committee of Military Tourism, upon publication of the joint ministerial decree. The Committee’s purpose is the drafting of a Full Plan of Action for the Highlighting, Projection and Promotion of the above goals. The Plan will materialise according to the available fiscal capabilities and financial tools, with the contribution, coordination and under the guidance of the competent Services and Cooperating Parties.
Also present at the meeting was the former President of the Committee of National Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament and MP of the first electoral district of Thessaloniki Mr Kostas Gkioulekas, who is intensely active in the sector of researching and registering modern military history.
