Theoharis said: I had the honour of participating in the 35th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), held in Athens, representing the voices of those who believe that the tourism of tomorrow must be sustainable, fair, and resilient.
As a candidate for the position of Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization – UN Tourism and former Minister of Tourism of our country, I shared thoughts and proposals for a new model of tourism development. I stressed that:
• Development must be decoupled from the environmental burden.
• We need regenerative tourism that restores communities and ecosystems.
• Technology, from Artificial Intelligence to real-time analysis, is a tool for more transparency, a better experience, and meaningful sustainability.
• The creation of a Global Tourism Fund, with public and private participation, would strengthen local communities and resilience to crises.
• Greece can remain a global leader, focusing on authenticity, insularity, digital readiness and empowering the new generation of tourism entrepreneurs.
ACI EUROPE’s resolution on net zero emissions by 2050 was updated, with more than 300 European airports actively committing. Among them was Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, which was awarded in the category of 25–40 million passengers. It stood out for its strategic focus on promoting the destination and successfully addressing seasonality through partnerships with key aviation and tourism operators.
The tourism of the future can become a global public good, enhancing the sustainability of economies and societies as well as peace. It is enough to dare to redefine it.
