The 6th Conference of Geoparks of Greece and Cyprus will be held in Anogia, Rethymno, from Thursday 11 to Saturday 13 June 2026, a leading scientific and institutional conference that highlights the role of UNESCO Global Geoparks, with a focus on sustainable development and geotourism.
With the theme “The role of geotourism and other forms of alternative tourism in the sustainable development of inland and mountain communities”, the conference aims to exchange experiences and promote innovative approaches to the promotion and use of natural and cultural heritage.
The Rural Tourism Cluster epaithros+ will also take part, giving a presentation on Thursday, 11 June at 10.45, entitled “The promotion of the Psiloritis geotrails via the Rural Greece platform and the epaithros+ Cluster”. The presentation will be given by Chryssa Pagalou, General Manager of ETAM SA and Coordinator of the epaithros+ Cluster, as part of the first thematic section, which focuses on geotourism, alternative tourism and local products.
The presentation will focus on the role of geotrails as integrated experiences that link the geological heritage, the natural environment and the cultural identity of the region, highlighting the the importance of geotourism on the island, as well as the need for more organised and systematic information for visitors regarding the available geotrails.
In addition, the Rural Greece The platform will be presented as a modern digital tool for promoting and showcasing geotrails and geotourism, which significantly improves visitors’ access to organised content about the countryside, featuring themed routes, recommendations from local businesses and points of interest. Finally, the role of the epaithros+ The cluster will be highlighted, as it promotes cooperation and networking amongst rural stakeholders, actively contributing to the sustainable development of mountainous and rural areas and to the enhancement and diversification of Crete’s tourism offering.
Find out more about the conference here.
Please find the detailed programme for the Conference below.
The project entitled “Rural Tourism Cluster epaithros+” is being implemented under the “Research-Innovate” Action of the “Competitiveness” Operational Programme of the NSRF 2021–2027 and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national resources.
The UNESCO Psiloritis Global Geopark is a member of the epaithros+ Rural Tourism Cluster.