Believing that the power of journalism is an important lever for promoting and highlighting the comparative advantages of Pieria, the Pierian Organization for Tourism Development and Promotion (P.O.T.A.P.) invited, hosted, guided, and informed representatives of the country’s leading nationwide media outlets.
On March 8–9–10, 2024, the Organization’s initiative was carried out with a series of on-site visits by journalists to areas and institutional bodies of Pieria that reflect not only the tourism identity but also the broader character of the region.
Based in a hotel unit in Leptokarya, where the first meeting took place, the press representatives were welcomed and briefed on the operational program of the three-day tour by their hosts. The first visit took place on the afternoon of Friday, March 8, 2024, in Litochoro.
At the reception were His Eminence Metropolitan Georgios of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon, and the Deputy Mayor of Dion-Olympos, Sofia Zourzoura.
At the foothills of the mythical Mount Olympus, the tour and briefing began in the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Dion-Olympos and at the Maritime Museum with its great naval tradition, with the evening concluding with a local wine tasting—an experience dedicated to the senses.
The Saturday, March 9, 2024 program included visits to areas in northern Pieria, within the Municipality of Pydna-Kolindros, guided and accompanied by Deputy Mayor Maria Navrozidou. The day began at the archaeological site of Pydna, from where the Apostle Paul set sail on his second missionary journey.
This was followed by visits and tours of the Museum Repository of Makrygialos, with remarkable finds from the cities of Pydna and Methoni dating from the Iron Age to the Hellenistic period, and to a winery and vineyards in Kitros.
Next came an interesting stop in Aiginio, the “city of storks,” for a presentation on the “Stories of the Storks” by the Association of Professionals of Aiginio, followed by a visit to Kolindros to explore the local Folklore Museum, the Holy Monastery of Saint Athanasios, and the churches of Saint Paraskevi and Saint George.
On the third and final day, Sunday, March 10, 2024, the media delegation visited, in the morning, the headquarters of the Olympus Festival Organization, where they were informed about this nationally renowned cultural institution by its president, Mr. Grigoris Papachristos, the Deputy Regional Governor of Pieria, Ms. Sofia Mavridou, and the Deputy Mayor of Katerini, Ms. Elina Diamantopoulou.
The “journalistic tour” of Pieria concluded with visits to Elatochori and its Ski Center in the Pieria mountains, and to the traditional settlement of Palaios Panteleimonas, known as the “balcony” of Olympus, with its remarkable examples of traditional architecture.
Alongside discovering the natural, historical, and archaeological wealth of Pieria, the hosted journalists also met, were briefed, and exchanged views not only with Deputy Regional Governor of Pieria, Sofia Mavridou—who promotes and supports such initiatives—but also with the president of P.O.T.A.P., Giorgos Karalis, members of the Organization’s administration, as well as local government officials and other institutional and productive bodies of the region.
In conclusion, the Pierian Organization for Tourism Development and Promotion (P.O.T.A.P.), guided by extroversion and foresight, put into practice the modern philosophy required today in the field of information and promotion.
The three-day event, titled “Fam Trip” (familiarization trip for journalists), as a means of promoting tourist destinations, will undoubtedly contribute to the further enhancement of Pieria’s tourism, along with the respective economic and other benefits.
The Deputy Regional Governor of Pieria, Ms. Sofia Mavridou, and the President of P.O.T.A.P., Mr. Giorgos Karalis, expressed their satisfaction and gratitude to the press delegation, stating that similar initiatives will continue both within Greece and internationally.
