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News Rural Tourism

EU Agri-Hackathon: European Hackathon for Agricultural Innovation (16–18 October 2026)

Ministry of Environment and Energy: The list of Protected Landscapes is expanded to 12

Peloponnese claims European distinction in sustainable cultural tourism with a focus on Mani

New loans of 330 million euros for small and medium-sized enterprises through TEPIX III

WTTC: Seven principles for sustainable development of tourism destinations and greater benefit for local communities

Crete: Platform for hosting those affected by the fire in southern Rethymno

The annual epaithros+ visitor survey on rural tourism in Greece has begun

Veria Opens Network of 20 Hiking Trails to Boost Nature Tourism

30% plant-based dishes on hotel menus | The new global standard for sustainable tourism

Call for applications for funding for the Action: I Innovate in Crete – Support for new innovative businesses in the Region of Crete

epaithros+ and Rural Greece highlighted the value of the countryside at the 11th Amari Green Festival!

Olympus is on the UNESCO World Heritage List!

Greek Islands Rank Among Europe’s Best-Value Family Destinations for British Families

ELSTAT: Greeks Travel More and Spend More in 2025

Over a third of Americans are using AI to plan their summer holidays | AI is changing the way we travel

EU: Greece ranks third in terms of tourist seasonality, with over 150 million overnight stays – drivers lose 38 hours a year in traffic

Call for Nominations for the Region of Crete Innovative Entrepreneurship Awards 2026

epaithros+ and Rural Greece are taking part in the Amari Green Festival!

The annual epaithros+ survey on rural tourism in Greece has begun!

The village in Crete that serves as a meeting point for culture, tradition and ideas

IHIF EMEA Research: Greece is the top destination in Europe for hotel investments | A shift towards luxury hotels and strong confidence despite geopolitical crises

Amari Festival: Where Crete tells its stories

Lassithi Plateau: Work on mountaineering and walking trails has been completed

VisitGreece.gr is changing – A new era for the digital promotion of Greek tourism

Asterousia Trails and Asterousia were introduced to journalists during a two-day familiarisation and press trip

“Bet” on Crete’s tourism sector to retain its authenticity within a modern framework of infrastructure and services

Tourism 365 – Challenges in Striking a Balance Over 12 Months

The “Asterousia Trails” hiking trail network of the Municipality of Gortyna is being inaugurated on Sunday

Research into diving tourism in Crete

New Financial Tool: “Participation in European Co-Funded Research and Innovation Partnerships under Horizon Europe”

epaithros+ makes a dynamic appearance at BEYOND Expo 2026

The event entitled “Hiking Routes and Sustainable Tourism Development in Asterousia” was successfully held in Agioi Deka.

Booking: Travel is changing – The 5 trends that will shape holidays in 2026

5G Technology to Support Public Health in the Samaria Gorge

How AI is Changing Hotel Marketing

Chryssa Pagalou’s interview at BEYOND Expo 2026!

The epaithros+ Cluster looks forward to seeing you at the Asterousia Trails conference in Agioi Deka!

Caretta caretta, ambassador for sustainable tourism in Crete

New Tourism Radiography

Premium travel: The five types of travellers reshaping the tourism industry

epaithros+ and Rural Greece are waiting for you at BEYOND 2026!

The epaithros+ Cluster at the conference on “Hiking Routes and Sustainable Tourism Development in Asterousia”, in Agioi Deka!

Applications are now open for the 9th Capsule T Acceleration Round

Crete: Psiloritis becomes a hiking “giant” – 30 routes and 250 km in the UNESCO Geopark

Karpathos features in TUI’s top ten list of the best sea excursions worldwide

Invitation to take part in the Food Film Menu 2026, a series of short films on the theme of Cretan food culture – Organised by IGCAT

Europe: Why more and more travellers are choosing nightlife tourism

Call for Volunteers: 9th Panhellenic Trails Meeting in Polykastro

The conference in Apesokari was successfully held on the topic: “The Asterousia Biosphere Reserve as a hiking and gastronomic destination”

epaithros+ News Vol. 9

Swedish tribute celebrates the authentic Karpathos

Tourism: Europeans are turning their backs on the crowds – The 5 types of people looking for an authentic off-season holiday

Solo travel: Explosive rise in solo travel – 230% increase in searches, market doubles in the US

Workshop on “The Asterousia Biosphere Reserve as a Hiking and Gastronomic Destination”, in Apesokari

The 1st General Assembly of the Mediterranean Trails Network in Chania

Greece Features on Lonely Planet’s 2026 Summer Escapes List

Report: Greece is the World’s Most Beautiful Country in 2026

UNESCO-TUI: Global plan to prevent monuments from being “drowned” by tourism

The epaithros+ Cluster at the 6th Conference of Geoparks of Greece and Cyprus!

epaithros+ and Rural Greece will be taking part in BEYOND 2026!

Karpathos: an international destination for quality tourism

Accommodation Guide for Visitors to the 9th Panhellenic Trails Meeting

Asterousia Trails met with the pupils of the primary schools in Asimiou and Agioi Deka

Crete’s strengths, according to tourists | Areas for improvement

The unknown Cycladic gem that conquered Europe – Ranked second among the top “secret” destinations

Tourism for All: When Accessibility and Inclusion Cease to Be a “Special Issue”

The “Asterousia Trails” event was a great success in Heraklion!

Registration for the 9th Panhellenic Trails Meeting 2026 has begun!

“Open Doors” in Crete!

Open Consultation on the pre-publication of the initiative: Support for new innovative businesses in the Region of Crete – “I innovate in Crete”

The epaithros+ Cluster at the 9th Panhellenic Trails Meeting 2026!

Presentation of the “Asterousia Trails” Hiking Trail Network of the Municipality of Gortyna, in Heraklion

National Geographic: A Greek destination ranked among the top 15 for food worldwide

The hands-on workshop “Hiking safely” was held in Vagionia as part of the promotion of the “Asterousia Trails”

Samaria National Park: Opening on Tuesday, 19 May 2026

The rise of purpose-driven storytelling in the hospitality industry

The event “The Environment of Asterousia” took place in Stavies as part of the promotion of “Asterousia Trails”

Experiential workshop on the topic of “Hiking safely” in Vagionia

Municipality of Gortyna: Photography competitions focusing on the natural and man-made environment of Asterousia!

Hiking Routes “Asterousia Trails” in the Municipality of Gortyna: Information Event on “The Environment of the Asterousia Mountains” in Stavies

The Inconvenient Reality Behind the Greek Tourism Success Story: What New Research Reveals About Working Conditions in Tourism and Hospitality

New Spatial Planning for Tourism: Maximum area of 16 acres – Strict framework for areas of high development density and Crete

ETC: What’s changing in the tourism sector’s “green” commitments from 2026

Pre-publication of the “I Innovate in Crete” initiative”

260Km Festival in Chania | A three-day event full of meaningful encounters and genuine interest

“Asterousia Trails”: Asterousia invests in nature, culture and sustainable tourism

Pan-Cretan Young Chef Competition 2026 – “European Young Chef Award 2026” – Crete European Region of Gastronomy 2026 (Open call for entries)

epaithros+ & Rural Greece at the 4th “260Kmemories Festival” – The festival programme

The call for applications for the “STARTING IN BUSINESS” initiative under the Competitiveness Programme, with a total budget of €70,000,000, has been published

The Economics of Hospitality Begins from Within: Why Employees Determine the Outcome

epaithros+ & Rural Greece at the 4th “260Kmemories Festival” in Chania – Information session on Sunday

The Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism is presented

INSETE: Strong performance in tourist arrivals and revenue for Greek tourism in 2025

Information Event to Present the “Asterousia Trails” Hiking Routes

GrowCrete 3.0: Crete invests in sustainable entrepreneurship – Applications for the new incubator cycle are now open

Call for applications for funding under the “WE PRODUCE IN GREECE” initiative”

Adventure tourism significantly boosts the Greek market

Booking.com: What sort of holidays do Greeks choose?

Via Ferrata in Meteora for walking and climbing – A growing hub for alternative tourism

What drives growth in scuba diving tourism?