The International Sea Tourism Festival, held in Rhodes from October 25 to 28, 2024, concluded with resounding success. The festival brought together top industry professionals, institutional representatives, local authorities, and thousands of visitors, showcasing the potential and growth prospects of sea tourism in Greece and the Mediterranean.

The festival featured a range of events and parallel activities, including the Open Air Seminars with the central theme “Go Blue - Go Green - Go Smart.” These seminars covered essential topics, providing participants with valuable insights and focusing on sustainable development and technological innovations shaping the future of sea tourism.

The seminars included:

• “Smart Technologies in Sea Tourism” with speakers Stavros Karamountanis, CEO of Ayia Napa Marina; Ioannis Kostopoulos, CEO and Co-Founder of SaMMYACHTING; George Pilpilidis, Co-founder and CEO of kleesto; and Konstantinos Dris, Operations Manager of Athenian Yachts S.A.

• “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development of Sea Tourism in Greece,” where speakers Michalis Tsatsaronis, Assistant Professor at the Department of Port Management and Shipping, University of Athens, and Vice President of the Chios Port Fund, and Georgios Vangelas, Associate Professor of the same department, analyzed the prospects of the blue economy.

• “Alien Species in the Mediterranean and Greek Seas: What Do We Know? How Can We Help the Environment and Scientists?” with speaker Dr. Paraskevi K. Karachle, Director of Research at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.

• “Aquaculture and Tourism: Synergies Driving Sustainable Development in the Blue Economy” with speaker Dr. Tasos Baltadakis, Marine Biologist at BLUTOPIA Marine Park.

• “Education Opportunities and Career Prospects in the Sea Tourism Sector” with speakers Katerina Lyrintzi, Chief Operations Officer at QMS - Maritime Training Center; Alexandra Zerou, CEO of Neptunea & Neptunea Crew; and Dionysia Leschopoulou, Co-Founder, CEO & Head of Sales at Athenian Yachts S.A.

Anastasios Konstantaros, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, stated: “The successful completion of this year’s festival marks another milestone in promoting sea tourism as a key growth sector. We are proud that Rhodes has proven its ability to host world-class events, offering unique experiences to visitors and helping to elevate the blue economy. Our sincere
thanks go to the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Municipality of Rhodes, the South Aegean Region, the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce, and all our sponsors and partners who supported this endeavor. The festival is now an established institution, and in 2025, at Ayia Napa Marina in Cyprus, we look forward to expanding our actions and influence further.”

The upcoming International Sea Tourism Festival, scheduled for 2025 at Ayia Napa Marina, Cyprus, will continue to promote innovations and opportunities within the sea tourism sector, raising the bar even higher and establishing the festival as a benchmark in this evolving industry.