Christina Tetradis – President of RIT: The Future of Greek Tourism Will Be Determined by How We Protect Our Natural Capital

The President of RIT, Ms Christina Tetradis, referred to the significant contribution of the Research Institute for Tourism to strengthening sustainability and sustainable development in Greek tourism during her address at the annual event announcing the beaches, marinas and tourist boats in Greece awarded the “Blue Flag”, organised by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) on Thursday, 14 May 2026.

Ms Tetradis stressed that a strong tourism industry such as Greece’s cannot exist without healthy destinations that maintain a balance between development, environmental protection and social well-being. “The future of Greek tourism will be determined not only by how many people choose us, but also by how we protect the natural capital that makes us unique,” Ms Tetradis emphasised, noting that Greece’s ranking once again this year in 2nd place worldwide for Blue Flag awards is not only a recognition of quality, but also international confirmation that excellence in tourism is inextricably linked to respect for the environment, organisation, safety, environmental awareness and, ultimately, the quality of life of local communities.

In this context, Ms Tetradis pointed out that, for the Research Institute for Tourism, sustainability is a strategic choice for the future survival of the sector and the preservation of its competitiveness. More specifically, as she stated, RIT is the central body for producing primary data and transforming them into structured, actionable knowledge for Greek tourism. She therefore stressed that this evidence-based information constitutes the main tool for formulating substantive recommendations to relevant bodies and the State, so that the necessary interventions to support and sustainably develop tourism are based on real data rather than fragmentary estimates. She also underlined that “the Greek hotel sector has consistently demonstrated that it can lead this transition, not only as a key pillar of the tourism economy, but also as an active participant in shaping a new development model that is greener, smarter and more resilient.”