Travel West Forum, March 2025

TRAVEL WEST FORUM, a leading and innovative conference on tourism in Western Greece, now firmly established, returns for its third consecutive year in May 2026, expanding its scope with the aim of exploring how the wider region of Western Greece can serve as a hub for alternative tourism.

The third edition of the conference focuses on critical issues such as sustainable practices, infrastructure development, and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, examining them within the framework of a long-term and coherent policy, and highlighting the need for a unified and strategic approach to guide the future of tourism in the region.

The conference is organized by thebest.gr, the largest news media portal in Western Greece, with the participation of the Administrative Region of Western Greece, co-organized by the Chamber of Achaia, in collaboration with the Port Authority of Patras and held under the auspices of the University of Patras.

ROYAL, PATRA

8.05.2026

TWF 2024 2025

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sections

speakers

FRAMEWORK

The cultural heritage and natural features of the Region of Western Greece (extensive coastline, blue flags, nearby islands, nature), as well as its historical position as a cradle of creation, a stronghold of development, and outward orientation for the country (site of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Olympic Games, etc.), form a mosaic that can serve as the foundation for alternative forms of tourism (such as cultural, maritime, wine tourism, sports, conference, religious, agritourism), offering benefits in terms of extending the tourist season and positioning the region correctly as a new tourist market within the high- spending, alternative international tourist market.

PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE

The purpose of the Conference is to highlight the advantages of the Region of Western Greece (starting with Achaia) in areas related to tourism, as well as to:

Discuss the modern, alternative, mild, sustainable approach to tourism and the new image that the region could project through strong marketing.

Explore the significance of tourism to the Region of Western Greece's economy and business development in tourism-related sectors.

Present good examples for the area's tourism development and new proposals and approaches.

The Travel West Forum aims to serve as an ideal platform for exchanging views among stakeholders and to strengthen the spirit of cooperation.

PROGRAM

10:00

Arrival – Registration

10:35

Opening

Welcome to the 2nd Travel West Forum

10:40 - 11:20

Greetings – Speeches

George Papandreou | Former Prime Minister, Honorary President of the Socialist International, PASOK MP for Achaia

Iason Fotilas | Deputy Minister of Culture

Konstantinos Arvanitis | Vice President of The Left, Head of the SYRIZA European Parliamentary Group

Nektarios Farmakis* | Regional Governor of Western Greece

Christos Bouras | Rector of the University of Patras

11.20 - 11.40

Tourism as a Lever for Economic Development

Theodoros Louloudis | President of the Achaia Chamber of Commerce

11:50 - 12:20

Modern Cities & Tourism: Shaping the Future of Urban Life with Alternative Rules

Dimitrios Vergados | UNESCO Chair Holder & Professor, Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus
“Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources”
Machi Georgakopoulou | Economist, President of Hellenic Female Leaders UK
“Patras 2030: The role of academic research, innovation, and contemporary art in the rebirth of Patras as a new international hub. New development models and prospects”
Fay Makantasi | Research Director at diaNEOsis
“Alternative forms of tourism, ecotourism, and untapped opportunities”

12:20 - 12:40

Tourism and Regional Development in Western Greece – New Trends, Sustainable Strategies

Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos | Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Region of Western Greece
“Tourism in Western Greece – Economic indicators, data, challenges, prospects”
Petros Papapetropoulos | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Tourism and regional development, the dynamics of the network of productive activities”

12:50 - 13:20

Green Policies and the Environment – The Road to Sustainability – The Case of Aigialeia

Panagiotis Andriopoulos | Mayor of Aigialeia
Greeting
Nikos Karaiskos | Deputy Mayor for Sanitation and Environment, Municipality of Aigialeia
“Waste management infrastructure and environmental protection as a developmental asset for tourism”
George Dinos | President of the Aigialeia Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYA)
“Wastewater management and tourism. How modern infrastructure ensures environmental protection and strengthens the tourism destination”
Christos Kanellis | Vice President of Achaia Hoteliers
“Sustainable Tourism Development – Aigialeia 2030”

13:20 - 13:50

Cultural Tourism: History and Tradition as Pillars of Alternative Development

Charalampos Bonanos | Deputy Regional Governor of Western Greece
“FILM OFFICE: Western Greece in the film industry – Attracting audiovisual productions in Achaia, Ilia, Aetolia-Acarnania”
Anastasia Koumousi | Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia
“Highlighting archaeological monuments and museums in Achaia as a driver of tourism development”
Alexandros Panagiotopoulos | Cultural Manager, “Messolonghi by Locals”
“Messolonghi by Locals: When cultural heritage becomes a living experience and a source of revitalization | Sustainable communities, authentic experiences”

13:50 - 14:40

Lunch Break

14:50 - 15:10

Wine Tourism and Gastronomy: The Flavor of Places, the “Aroma” of Travel

Katerina Nikolou | Ιntelligent Collaborations, Co-Founder and Co-Owner Strategic Communications Consultant
“Messinia Terroirs. From Tourism... to the Wine Routes”
Konstantina Voulgari Kontesopoulou | Award-winning Chef, Owner of CVK Greek Food Consulting
“The cultural mapping of a place and the empowerment of tourism through gastronomy”

15:15 - 15:55

Transportation: The Port of Patras and “Accessibility” in Tourism

Panagiotis Anastasopoulos | CEO of Patras Port Authority
“The Sustainable Port of Patras”
Ignatios Fotiou | Founder of TOBEA
“Accessible Tourism: SEATRAC as a Model of Sustainable Innovation”
Eleni Giannaki | Airport Manager, Araxos State Airport
“The outlook for increasing air traffic at Araxos Airport and new forms of tourism”
Eleni Paraschi | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Cruising in Greece: Opportunities and Challenges for Tourism”
Antonis Charokopos | Vice President, National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities
“Promoting Accessible Tourism for People with Disabilities in the Region of Western Greece”

16:00 - 16:30

The Smart Transformation of Tourism | Artificial Intelligence and New Megatrends

Apostolos Rafailidis | President, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Megatrends in tourism: a brief overview”
Ioannis Nikas | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“From Big Data to Smart Tourism Experience”

16:30 - 17:00

Hotelling & Destinations: When Accommodation Becomes an Experience

Myrto Kiourti | Architect Engineer
“Architecture: Showcasing the stories of places and people”
Nikos Karaflos* | Owner of Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
“Transforming an interwar landmark into an experiential hotel”
Tatiana Dimou | Architect Engineer
“The potential of architecture as a hospitality experience”

17:00 - 17:40

Mega Events: Creating New Destinations

Eleni Albani | Vice Rector, University of Patras
“Welcome to Up. The new pioneering institution of the University of Patras as a youth destination in Western Greece this autumn”
Sofia Chintziou-Kontogianni | President of the Olympia Sympoliteia and Politeia Ilida Olympia
“Ecotourism Route Ilida-Olympia, The path of truce”
Nikolaos Papanikolaou | Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection, Urban Planning & Sustainable Tourism, Municipality of Messolonghi
“1826–2026: 200 Years Since the Exodus of Messolonghi – A historic event as a source of special interest tourism”
Alexis Agrios | General Manager of Kalavryta Ski Center
“Developing Alternative Forms of Tourism in Mountain Areas – Helmos Mountain Festival: How a Mountain Festival Boosted the Economy of an Entire Region”
Cleomenis Kostopoulos | Artistic Director of Patras International Street Art Festival │ ArtWalk
“Patras International Street Art Festival / ArtWalk. How contemporary culture can create cultural tourism and city breaks”