An article by our member Christina Kontaxi published on the online magazine “Aplotaria” of Chios island. The article treats of how some fragile ecosystems could be protected through the correct development of hiking trails, and to what extent one should provide details about endangered species found on specific spots. The article is available only in Greek, on the Grek version of our website.
In November 2016 Paths of Greece has completed its fieldwork on the island of Kasos. We have been really surprised by the amount and quality of trails this island has. The hiking trails development plan that we have handed to the Municipality of Kasos aims at revealing in a pleasant way all these secret places on the island, accessible only on foot!
Santa Claus has brought to Sifnos new trailhead signs! That was the las step to complete the sign-posting of the Sifnos Trails network. The boards used figure maps from Zoe Gozadinou, information about each trail and a few pictures. They aim at aspiring random people to start walking the trails and of course, to indicate each trails head. For more information you can click here: www.sifnostrails.com
In November 2016 the team of Paths of Greece has completed a 20-days long fieldwork on the island of Ithaca. The project was funded by the Municipality of Ithaca. The outcomes of the research have been delivered and now Ithaca is ready to proceed with the development of its trails network!
Christina Kontaxi, member of Paths of Greece, has been interviewed by “go-amorgos.com” about hiking tourism and the trails of Amorgos. The interview took place a few days after the YPERIA 2016 international conference organised by the hotel Aegialis Hotel & Spa. The interview is available only in Greek on the Greek version of our website.
Paths of Greece presented its recommendations on the development of hiking destinations at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) “European Regional Meeting – Building Sustainability in European Tourism” that took place at Zappeion on 23-24 November 2016. During a second presentation, the hiking network developed on the island of Sifnos, called “Sifnos Trails”, was analyzed as an example of good practice on hiking destination development, as well as an example of good cooperation between Paths of Greece and the Municipality of Sifnos. Paths of Greece was invited to the Council by Green Evolution.
“Paths of Greece” participated at the 8th Panhellenic Ecology Convention, presenting the environmental and forestry legislation for protected areas in conjunction with the trails as a natural – cultural asset, in the direction of hiking tourism development. The presentation was given by Christina Kontaxi, a member of “Paths of Greece” and of the Greek Ecological Society. The 8th Panhellenic Ecology Convention took place in Thessaloniki between the 20th and 23rd of October 2016 at the Aristotle University installations and during the presentation the example of the proposal by “Paths of Greece” to the local authorities of Alonnisos was used, while strong skepticism concerning the treating of traditional paths and trails as building and construction projects was voiced by the scientific community: a concern that “Paths of Greece” has voiced in several occasions including its recent suggestions for the planned legislation on trail development by the Ministry of the Environment.
The World Trails Network 6th World Trails Conference took place between the 14th and 17th of October 2016 in Tottori, Japan. During the conference, which attracted participants from over 30 countries, “Paths of Greece” gave a presentation titled “Utilizing 5000 year old trails for a better future”, analyzing Greece’s potential in becoming one of the 10 leading hiking destinations worldwide. In the same spirit, during the final day of the Convention, the ceremony of the joining of M1 Kythera Trail and San’in Kaigan Geopark Trail (two trails with several similar characteristics), along the WTN “Friendship Trails” programme, also took place. This was a special event for the Japanese as Kythera M1 Trail passes in front of Roza Kasimatis house. She was the mother of Lafkadio Hern, known as Yakumo Koizumi, considered Japan’s national storyteller.
This was the second trail joining taking place in Greece, along the WTN “Friendship Trails” programme, once more an initiative by “Paths of Greece” that continues its efforts at promoting the country as a leading hiking destination, through its participation in the World Trails Network organizing committee.
“Paths of Greece” joined forces with ecotourism-greece.com and took part in the 1st International Expo on alternative tourism “Nostos Expo 2016” that took place in Nafpaktos, Greece, from 14 to 17 October 2016. Conveying the values and potential of hiking tourism in Greece, drawing information by the projects that Paths of Greece has completed and exchanging that information with the various participants of Nostos Expo, at the “Paths of Greece” stand and at b2b meetings, “Paths of Greece” promoted the already developed hiking destinations and its quality work. Through teaming up with ecotourism-greece.com the opportunity to exhibit that through the development and promotion of a hiking destination other forms of alternative activities can also develop, was provided.
“Paths of Greece” happily accepted the invitation, for a second year, to participate at the YPERIA International Convention that took place from 12 to 17 October 2016 on the island of Amorgos. Concentrating on the subject of “Ecology and Tradition – Potential for tomorrow” the presentation of “Paths of Greece”, given by Christina Kontaxi, focused on the protection of nature and the development of hiking tourism in Natura 2000 areas. During YPERIA 2016, the 7th Amorgos International Short Tourist Film Festival also took place leading to the exchange of useful information on the preservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage, both on Amorgos Island as well as internationally.
