PRESS RELEASE
UNESCO WORLD GEOPARK VIKOS-AOOS: NETWORKS OF COLLABORATING BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE ZAGORI MUNICIPALITY
Η Development of Epirus SA – Development SA Local Authority, in collaboration with Municipality of Zagori, On the afternoon of Monday 13/7/2020, at the Monodendri Open-Air Theatre «Angelos Kitsos», they organised an informational event for tourism entrepreneurs and generally all active citizens of the area, with the subject of the possibility of their cooperation and participation in the joint promotion of Vikos-Aoos UNESCO Global Geopark.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Zagori, Mr. Georgios Soukouvelos and Deputy Mayor Mr. Ioannis Tsaparis, the presidents and members of the Zagori Tourism Businesses Association, the Monodendri Tourism Businesses Association and the Papingo Professionals Association, as well as other professionals and residents of Zagori and neighbouring areas, such as Metsovo and Nestorio of Kastoria.
The Mayor, Mr. Soukouvelos, opened the event with a brief greeting and briefly mentioned:
- amidst the difficulties local businesses are facing due to the pandemic,
- in the Municipality's efforts to support them,
- as well as in the continued collaboration with the HEPIROS SA. for the development and promotion of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark and the Municipality of Zagori in general.
From the HEPIROS SA. the members of the board of directors attended, Mr. Eleni Rokkou and Mr. Elsa Exarchou, as well as the executives Georgia Kitsaki, Aristotelis Staggikas and Charitakis Papaioannou, who, in collaboration with the representative of LIME Technology IKE Mr. Christos Bello, presented the first part of the event regarding the project TOPIC, which is being implemented as part of the Programme INTERREG Greece-Albania 2014-2020.
One of the project's actions, which has already been completed, concerns the design and development of three thematic routes with various objects related to:
- culture,
- health and well-being,
- local products,
- as well as geology.
The geological route develops in a circular path and encompasses the entire Vikos-Aoos Geopark area. Their presentation is achieved through the utilisation of new technologies and «smart tools», such as mobile phone applications that are already in operation.
The innovative element in this case, beyond the presentation of the area, lies in the possibility of interaction between businesses and users-visitors through a game.gamification), which awards virtual and physical rewards, which interested businesses will be able to register.
In the second part of the event, the executives of the HEPIROS SA. they developed the idea as well as the method through which the active and voluntary participation of the local community in the promotion, advancement and development of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark can be achieved.
This is about activation through the establishment of two Networks:
- of the Volunteer Network
- and of Network of Partner Businesses of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark.
These networks aim to mobilise civil society and the business community and engage them in the sustainable development of the area, in line with the principles of UNESCO Global Geoparks.
This event marked the beginning of the creation of the two Networks. Already, through the Vikos-Aoos Geopark website, interested parties can register for both the Volunteer Network and the Network of Collaborating Businesses.
Η HEPIROS SA., as the management body of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark, will schedule further meetings with the network members, during which their operational guidelines will be jointly drawn up.
Finally, the HEPIROS SA. intends to organise similar events and initiatives for the Vikos-Aoos Geopark and the Konitsa region, in collaboration with the Municipality of Konitsa, in the near future.
