An inter-municipal collaboration of 8 municipalities is launching the implementation of a network of 30 hiking trails, with a total length of approximately 250 km, in the UNESCO Global Geopark of Psiloritis.
A new step towards the implementation of the “Psiloritis Geopark Routes” is being recorded in Crete, through the collaboration of 8 municipalities to create an extensive network of hiking routes.
Specifically, the Municipal Committee of the Municipality of Mylopotamos approved the conclusion of a programmatic agreement with the Municipalities of Rethymno, Amari, Gortyna, Heraklion, Anogia, Malevizi and Phaistos for the implementation of the action, with the Municipality of Anogia as the implementing body.
This development comes to promote a project that concerns the sustainable tourism development of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark area, utilizing old paths, cobblestones and routes that connect settlements, natural landscapes, historical sites and archaeological sites.
Network of 30 hiking trails
According to the details of the planning contract, the study that has been prepared provides for the creation of a network of 30 hiking trails, with a total length of approximately 250 km.
These routes are designed to connect settlements, historical and archaeological sites with natural and aesthetic monuments, highlighting the landscape, cultural heritage and special geological identity of Psiloritis.
The project is not only about the development of hiking infrastructure, but also about creating a unified framework for promoting the hinterland of Crete. Through the routes, the Geopark can acquire a clearer tourist identity, addressing visitors seeking nature, hiking, culture and authentic experiences outside the classic tourist zones.
The Municipality of Anogeia as implementing body
The operation will be implemented with the Municipality of Anogia as the beneficiary and implementing body, while the other municipalities participate as contracting bodies and will assist, among other things, in the monitoring and supervision of the project within their territorial boundaries.
Within the framework of the programmatic agreement, the Municipalities of Amari, Anogia, Gortyna, Heraklion, Malevizi, Mylopotamos, Rethymno and Phaistos participate, which gives the project an inter-municipal character and treats it as a unified intervention for the wider Psiloritis area.
The financing of the operation is provided through the Just Development Transition Fund, within the framework of a call for sustainable mobility projects in Integrated Spatial Investments.
Emphasis on sustainable development
The importance of the project is linked to the effort to develop forms of tourism that are based on the natural environment, local history and the interconnection of inland settlements.
The “Psiloritis Geopark Routes” can boost tourism in areas that do not rely on the mass coastal model, giving added value to villages, local communities and small businesses in the hinterland.
At the same time, the creation of an organized network of hiking trails enhances the extroversion of the Psiloritis Geopark and can function as a tool for extending the tourist season, highlighting Cretan nature and developing gentler and thematic forms of tourism.
Source: tornosnews.gr