Patoulis : “Greece, at the level of the development of thermalism, can lead and can become a global attraction”
A Workshop on Thermal Tourism was held with great success in Alexandroupolis, in the framework of the two-day conference organized by the Greek Health Tourism Council – Elitour, in cooperation with the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, under the auspices of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis, the Department of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace, the Medical Associations of Athens and Evros, the Hippocratic Academy of Thermal Medicine and the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine.
The important role that Greece can play in the field of Thermal Tourism was highlighted at the workshop held on Friday 28 June at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, with the participation of notable representatives of the scientific, political and business world of the country. The speakers stressed the great potential of spa tourism, which has seen rapid growth in recent years and mentioned that internationally there are thousands of registered thermal springs facilities in hundreds of countries, with new projects being developed feverishly in the global market.
The proceedings of the Workshop were opened by George Patoulis, President of the Athens Medical Association, Elitour and the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, who said that Greece, in terms of the development of thermalism, has an international leadership role and Alexandroupolis can become a global pole of attraction. Among other things, he stressed the following:
“Greece can lead and be in front of important positions, as far as Thermal Tourism is concerned. We need coherent and correct strategies to make the country a destination for Thermal Tourism, such as for example the utilization of infrastructures that have been abandoned in recent years. In the investment sector, thermal springs are gaining increasing interest from investors who understand the business value of both the attraction of a day visit and of a stay. In terms of the attractiveness of spa destinations, the conclusion that has been captured as official practice in attracting spa tourists is the connection with local culture and nature, which helps to deliver higher returns and longer length of stay.”
Among others, important speeches were given by Mr. Konstantinos Kouskoukis, president of the Hippocratic Academy of Thermal Medicine, Professor Mr. Stefanos Geroulanos, Mr. Konstantinos Vadikolias, President of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Athens, Mr. Ioannis Raptis, representative of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Theodoros Kouskos businessman and member of Elitour, Mr. Athanasios Zisimopoulos, Mr. Antonios Polydorou, Secretary General of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, Ms. Anastasia Koilou, of the Athens University of Nursing and Postgraduate Scholar of the Medical School of Athens, Mr. Theodoros Konstantinidis, Mr. Georgios Stefanakos, director of the EDDYPPY, Mr. Christos Chatzipapas, president of the Medical Association of Evros, the professor of gynecology, Mr. Panagiotis Tsikouras, while the Member of Parliament for Evros, Mr. Anastasios Dimoschakis, gave a greeting.
It should be mentioned that before the start of the conference, the President of Elitour and President of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, Mr. George Patoulis unveiled the Bust of Hippocrates and held a planting of the Platanus of Hippocrates in the courtyard of the Medical School of the DUTH, together with the President of the Department of Medicine of the DUTH, Mr. Konstantinos Vadikolias and in the presence of students and professors of the Department of Medicine.