The main objective of the project was the promotion of new standards of tourism development.Through the planned activities (training, conference, wine festival), the following topics were explored:a/the organization of thematic forms of tourism,b/the maintenance of benefits for the local community on an economic & social level,c/themed tourism activities that are based on sustainable development standards & d/proposals to minimize the negative effects on the natural & cultural environment.The second objective was the development of skills and the acquisition of new knowledge of the members of Santo Wines (producers) who wished to be active in thematic tourism in order to enrich & develop their turnover.The utilization & integration of the provided know-how & good practices in the context of their activities, contributed to the modernization of their professional activity & to the upgrading of the quality & service provided.The third objective was the internationalization of Santo Wines.The creation of the necessary framework for extroversion, networking & future cooperation with corresponding European bodies which have multiplier benefits both for the participants (members of the Union) and for the organizations.
The Union of Santorini Cooperatives (Santo Wines) is a union that operates in Santorini where tourism, as a key pillar of the island's socio-economic environment, has a significant impact on the background, professional and business prospects of its members. The Erasmus+ program, recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, provides the appropriate means so that institutions from different European countries can network and cooperate with the ultimate goal of developing skills, sharing knowledge and good practices as well as strengthening extroversion and internationalization of institutions. Looking forward to all these possibilities, Santo Wines submitted and carried out this project. The project is in line with the Union's corporate social responsibility framework for the preservation of cultivated land, traditional crops and the preservation of the local character. Santo Wines focused on thematic tourism distinguishing its comparative advantage in relation to conventional tourism. Thematic tourism is constantly gaining ground in tourism practice, as it is a response to the effects of mass, conventional tourism as a need to express the special interests, needs and preferences of visitors.