Having two strong cards in your hands, the long coastline of Pieria on one side and Mount Olympus on the other, the area gives the image of a very interesting tourist destination. Is it really among the first choices of Greek and foreign visitors?
Pieria as a tourist destination is very special indeed, as it has some unique characteristics which are in complete harmony and compose unforgettable images and experiences even for the most demanding visitors. Our strong brand name, Olympus, the Pieria Mountains, our golden coasts that reach 72 kilometres, satisfy both mountain and sea lovers, making our region a competitive 12-month destination. We really notice how the strategy that we in the Prefecture of Pieria together with the Pieria Organization for Tourism Development and Promotion (POTAP) have drawn pays off, as Pieria is indeed among the first choices of both Greek and foreign visitors.
Which regions of our country does the majority of tourists come from and which countries´ residents consider this region as their main pole of attraction? Please explain.
Pieria is now a magnet for visitors from all over Europe. Clearly, a large number of visitors come from the Balkans, who have consistently chosen our region for several decades, but now we are making a big opening in Central Europe as well, and Great Britain is expected to follow soon. In addition, Greeks also choose Pieria for their holidays. The easy access to our prefecture, our privileged geographical position and the fact that Pieria is a road crossing of the Region of Central Macedonia make our area particularly attractive for Greeks, both for short and longer getaways. In particular, residents of our neighbouring areas consistently choose us every summer for their summer vacations, while Mountainous Pieria, with its snow-covered slopes that attract many visitors, both within and outside our borders, is an excellent winter destination that offers countless opportunities for alternative tourism. We can now say, that we have visitors from all over Greece, who we even have the pleasure of creating special bonds with as they visit us again and again.
What are the goals of the ‘tourism industry’ of Pieria for the period we are going through and what are the long-term ones? How easy are they to achieve?
The Regional Unit of Pieria has invested in tourism, which is considered one of the pillars of the local economy. Therefore, we have given special importance to the development of an innovative tourism model, which, in addition to the traditional ones (mountain and sea), also includes new forms of alternative tourism for all four seasons; we should, at this point, underline our vision of accessible tourism, that -with the cooperation of our prefecture and POTAP as well as several tourist agencies- has started to bear fruit. In fact, this year our effort was recognized and rewarded with the gold prize and the first place at the Tourism Awards for the innovative and functional platform for the promotion of Accessible Tourism. Certainly our goals are high and a lot of work is needed in order to achieve them, but with vision, passion, strategy, planning and above all cooperations we can further develop the tourism product of Pieria.
Is participation in international tourist exhibitions a means of attracting visitors from abroad? Which tourists do you want to reach?
Both in the Region of Central Macedonia and in the Regional Unit of Pieria we take our participation in international tourist exhibitions as granted. After all, these exhibitions, in addition to the character of getting to know new markets, also have the important feature of exchanging ideas and know-how in the field of tourism. In the last exhibitions in which the Regional Unit of Pieria participated in a stand of the Region of Central Macedonia, and more specifically in “THE HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW 2024” exhibition which was held in Dublin, Ireland, in the exhibition “FERIE FOR ALLE 2024”, which was held in Herning of Denmark and at the ITB in Berlin, we really promoted Pieria to new buying audiences in central and northern Europe and beyond, since our main strategic goal is to attract visitors from all over the world.
Is Scandinavia an interesting market for you and for what reasons?
Scandinavia is an extremely interesting market for Pieria. Clearly, the tourists of the northern European countries are our main target group, since we have set the goal of approaching a quite diverse tourist audience in relation to our visitors from the Balkans, with whom we share several common characteristics as culture and as inhabitants of regions with similar cultural traits and a Mediterranean temperament. That is why we believe that the influences from the rich and different from our own Northern European culture would have very interesting effects on our local society.
Mount Olympus, whose reputation is spread worldwide, is certainly a pole of attraction for visitors who can also come for alternative tourism. How do you make use of it and do you plan any further actions?
Mount Olympus is our strong brand name. A mythical mountain, an emblematic massif with global influence. In the Pieria Regional Unit we have laid the foundations for the exploitation of Olympus. Already in cooperation with the Municipality of Dion-Olympus we have launched major projects that include the creation of a national network of paths and hiking routes on Olympus, while on May 25 and 26 this year we co-organized for the first time with POTAP the 1st “Olympus Adrenaline & Nature Festival”, an innovative festival, which connected the Pieria coastline, Mount Olympus, Pieria, nature, culture and activities in an annual multi-thematic celebration, which is now established and will continue.
Festivals, fairs, theatrical events, events that you organize during the tourist season.
Pieria’s cultural calendar is rich throughout the year. With the strong refugee element that characterizes our region, as you understand, it is logical that there are a large number of cultural clubs, which make up the special and diverse cultural identity of Pieria. Precisely because of the abundance of events in our area, especially during the summer months when Pieria’s traffic is at its zenith, we created together with POTAP the “Digital Cultural Calendar of Pieria”, an online platform where visitors can consult us, so that they have a complete picture of the events, festivals and shows in our area. At any time and moment you can visit this website (https://olympusriviera.com.gr/identity/) and be informed about the cultural yearly calendar of Pieria
Tell us about religious tourism, churches, monasteries, “the footsteps of the Apostle Paul” and also something on archaeological tourism.
In close cooperation with the Holy Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon, the municipalities of the prefecture and all the tourism agencies involved, through the Pieria Organization for Tourism Development and Promotion that we have established, we are taking important steps, both in Greece and internationally, in the promotion and development of pilgrimage tourism in Pieria, in the promotion of the recognition and visitation of its sacred monuments, pilgrimages and relics. Pilgrimage tours with an emphasis on the path of the steps of the Apostle of the Nations in Pieria and with religious meaning and content, can be a rich experience for potential visitors, satisfying spiritual needs, but also more generally educational, as they necessarily connect with the history of our place, the archaeology, the arts, the natural environment and the culture of our region. At the same time, Pieria has an amazing density of important archaeological sites. The famous Dion, the holy city of the ancient Macedonian Kings, the prehistoric settlement of Makrygialos, the ancient and Byzantine Pydna, the port of departure of the Apostle Paul, the neighbouring Flowers, the ancient Levithra, the castle of Platamonas are the most important archaeological sites to visit . Archaeological tourism has always been one of the main poles of tourist attraction in our region, but also an important comparative advantage over other tourist destinations. Pieria will be the best destination for the combination of the past and the present, as well as the services offered with reference to modern tourist products.
Tell us about your beaches.
We are fortunate to live in a privileged regional unity. Pieria has unique alternations between green and blue. Pieria is not only Mount Olympus and the Pieria Mountains, Pieria is also our golden coasts. On approximately 72 kilometres of coastline, even the most demanding visitor can find the beach that suits their own style of vacation. You will find quiet, remote beaches with clear blue waters, but also organized beaches with beach bars, intense social life and plenty of choices in water activities for the whole family. I should also mention Pieria’s crystal clear waters; so clear and clean that, on June 4th, I personally signed the decision certifying the suitability of the sea waters of Pieria’s beaches for swimming. From North Pieria to South Pieria and in the three municipalities of our region you can swim without fear and cool off in our deep blue waters.
Do you consider the offered tourist product in terms of hotel accommodations to satisfy the modern visitor and his requirements? Are there sufficient hotel accommodations of all categories for the traffic? Rooms and apartments for rent? Give us a picture.
Pieria is an area that relies on its tourism, so the people of Pieria have invested in tourism, as it is a key pillar of the local economy. So there is enough accommodation to meet the needs of even the most demanding visitor. There are plenty of rooms for rent, hotels that meet even the strictest criteria, while the services of our accommodations are considered to be of excellent quality. Both in our coastal areas and in the mountains, there are accommodations that are aimed at all visitors, families who prefer quiet, younger ages who prefer sοcial life, visitors who seek adventure on the slopes of our mountains, or even visitors who wish to get to know the pilgrimages of our region. Our great success is that everyone who visits us always fondly remembers the days they spent in our place and there are not a few who choose us again for their next vacation.
How is tourism divided in terms of accommodation in hotels, rooms for rent and apartments?
The accommodation of our guests is shared in the largest percentage in hotels, followed by rental apartments and the campsites of Pieria. But the most important thing is that alongside the quantity we have a high quality of services in tourism. In recent years we have made significant progress in terms of the quality of our tourist product, which is now internationally competitive. Most of the hotels and rented apartments have been renovated, the entrepreneurs have used the possibilities of the National and European economic support and development programs to a satisfactory extent and at the same time the prices have been kept at a realistic level.
How long is the tourist season in your area? Please explain the specifics between summer and winter tourism.
Pieria offers visits and tourism 365 days a year, where everyone can find what suits them. Olympus, the Pieria Mountains, traditional settlements, our ski resort, our archaeological sites, our gastronomy and our pilgrimages make up a unique experience, as do our beaches, our golden coasts, cosmopolitan life and opportunities for carefree winter and summer holidays are the comparative advantage of our place as a tourist destination twelve months of the year.
What do you consider to be the external factors, -perhaps- and political initiatives, that would upgrade your own product offering?
From my many years of experience in local government, I have to point out that the most successful recipe is the collaborations and synergies between the agencies involved. Thus in the tourism sector, we have managed to take very important steps, because as the Pieria Regional Unit we cooperate both with the central administration and with all the local – or not – authorities involved in tourism, in order to further develop the tourism, to further upgrade our services, but also to reach a larger market. Recently, in fact, our collaboration with EOT and the action “Blossoming Cherries” was crowned with complete success. More generally, as a regional authority we always help within the framework of our competences as much as possible, so that there is even greater progress in the field of tourism. After all, “best is always the enemy of the good”.
What do you expect from this year’s tourist season?
This year the trends seem to be quite upward for the tourist traffic in Pieria. After the great recession during the pandemic, our region is returning to pre-covid levels, with very encouraging and upward trends. We expect to have a good summer season, with several visitors not only from the Balkans, but from all over Europe, while we already notice that the Greeks now also prefer Pieria for their summer holidays, proving that our efforts are paying off. We hope that we will have a productive and creative summer and that the summer season will flow at an increasing pace, which will be particularly beneficial not only for the local economy, but also for the multi-level stimulation and progress of our region.
