Congress
Programme
8th European Congress of Rural Tourism – ECRT 2023
Platres Cultural Centre, Platres Village, Limassol Region
‘’Rural Tourism for the responsible traveler’’
DAY 1
22nd of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 18:00 | Arrival and registration |
14:00 | Informal greeting to the participants |
14:30 – 17:00 | NETWORKING 1. Guided hiking tour in Kalidonia waterfalls & nature trail (starting point – Psilo Dentro Restaurant) – 60 minutes approximately Meeting Point – Forest Park Hotel 2. Free time and stroll around Platres hill resort |
17:00 – 18:00 | COFFEE BREAK |
18:00 – 19:00 | Inauguration Moderator: Mr. Vakis Loizides, Vice Chairman Cyprus Agrotourism Company and Senior Tourism Officer in the Deputy Ministry of Tourism Ms Sandra Carvao, UNWTO (live connection) Ms Marie-Helene Pradines, European Commission DG GROW, Head of Unit, Tourism & Textiles (live connection) Ms Silvia Nanna, European Commission DG AGRI, Policy Officer on the Long-term Vision for the EU’s rural areas (live connection) Mrs. Annita Demetriadou, Director of Tourism, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, President of the board of Cyprus Agrotourism Company Mr. Costas Koumis – Deputy Minister of Tourism (Video) Ms. Agne Vaitkuviene, Ph.d – President of the European Federation of Rural Tourism Mr. Panayiotis Papadopoulos – President of the Council of Platres and Troodos network |
19:00-21:00 | Informal get together cocktail (at Petit Palais Platres Boutique Hotel) |
DAY 1
22nd of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 18:00 | Arrival and registration |
14:00 | Informal greeting to the participants |
14:30 – 17:00 | NETWORKING 1. Guided hiking tour in Kalidonia waterfalls & nature trail (starting point – Psilo Dentro Restaurant) – 80 minutes approximately Meeting Point – Forest Park Hotel 2. Free time and stroll around Platres hill resort |
17:00 – 18:00 | COFFEE BREAK |
18:00 – 19:00 | Inauguration Moderator: Mr. Vakis Loizides, Vice Chairman Cyprus Agrotourism Company and Senior Tourism Officer in the Deputy Ministry of Tourism Ms Sandra Carvao, UNWTO (live connection or video) Representative from the European Commission DG GROW (Tbd) Representative from the European Commission DG AGRI (tbd) Mrs. Annita Demetriadou, Director of Tourism, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, President of the board of Cyprus Agrotourism Company Mr. Costas Koumis – Deputy Minister of Tourism Ms. Agne Vaitkuviene, Ph.d – President of the European Federation of Rural Tourism Mr. Panayiotis Papadopoulos – President of the Council of Platres and Troodos network |
19:00-21:00 | Informal get together cocktail |
DAY 2
23rd of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 09:15 | Opening of the Plenary session |
09:15 – 10:00 | Mr. Klaus Ehrlich – General Secretary, Rural Tour Breaking the ice on the topic
|
10:00- 12:00 | First Session: Improving Rural Tourism competitiveness ‘’Sustainability as a major element of the Rural Tourism competitiveness’’ -‘’The Case of Cyprus’’ – Mrs. Annita Demetriadou, Director of Tourism, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, President of the board of Cyprus Agrotourism Company -‘’ Agroxenia’’Greece – Mr. Nikos Asimianakis, Tourism Expert Commercial and Development – ‘’Sustainability from Theory to practice’’/ – Mrs Antje Papageorgiou – Ex TUI Manager, Board Member of Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) – ‘’Rural tourism and residents’ well-being in Cyprus: Towards a conceptualized framework of the appreciation of rural tourism for islands’ sustainable development and competitiveness’’- Dr. Nicolaos Boukas – PhD professor, Tourism & Hospitality Management European University Cyprus |
12:00-13:00 | Light Lunch (finger food) |
13:00-14:45 | Second Session: Addressing essential skills of young people in the rural tourism ‘Active participation of young people: prerequisite for the future” Event in the framework of the European Year of Skills Moderator: Mr. Klaus Ehrlich Round table (keynote, short statements, moderated discussion) – New Skills and Gaps in rural tourism services” – Ms Lobke Elbers, Breda University (results from research work Pact for Skills / Pantour). – Keynote -Ms. Sotiroula Liasidou – PhD Assistant Professor Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship Cyprus University of Technology – Ms. Christiana Stylianou – PhD Candidate, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship |
14:45 -16:00 | Coffee self – service buffet during sessions |
16:00 -17:00 | Third Session: Authentic Experiences ‘‘Best Practices. Maximize the customer satisfaction” 10’’ minutes presentations – Ms. Christina Constantinou – Owner & Managing Director of Vasilias Nikoklis Inn – Ms. Maria Solomou – Senior Tourist Officer, Deputy Ministry of Tourism Project manager of the authentic route “Heartland of legends” – Mr. Thierry Joubert – Green Visions Balkan – Mr. Marcos Zambartas – Oenologist & Director of Zambartas Winery Panel discussion (30’’ minutes) Moderator: Ms. Agne Vaitkuviene, Ph.d |
17:00 – 19:30 | Guided tour + Dinner Meeting point: Forest Park hotel Guided tour to the village of Omodos in Limassol Region |
19:30 | Dinner – ‘’To Katoi‘’ restaurant, Omodos village |
DAY 2
23rd of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 09:15 | Opening of the Plenary session |
09:15 – 10:00 | Mr. Klaus Ehrlich – General Secretary, Rural Tour Breaking the ice on the topic
|
10:00- 12:00 | First Session: Improving Rural Tourism competitiveness ‘’Sustainability as a major element of the Rural Tourism competitiveness’’ -‘’The Case of Cyprus’’ – Mrs. Annita Demetriadou, Director of Tourism, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, President of the board of Cyprus Agrotourism Company -‘’Building unique selling propositions in Rural Tourism development’’ – tbd – ‘’Sustainability from Theory to practice’’/ – Antje Papageorgiou – Ex TUI Manager, Board Member of Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) – ‘’Rural tourism and residents’ well-being in Cyprus: Towards a conceptualized framework of the appreciation of rural tourism for islands’ sustainable development and competitiveness’’- Dr. Nicolaos Boukas – PhD professor, Tourism & Hospitality Management European University Cyprus |
12:00-13:00 | Light Lunch (finger food) |
13:00-14:45 | Second Session: Addressing essential skills of young people in the rural tourism ‘Active participation of young people: prerequisite for the future” Event in the framework of the European Year of Skills Moderator: Klaus Ehrlich Round table (keynote, short statements, moderated discussion) – New Skills and Gaps in rural tourism services” – Ms Lobke Elbers, Breda University (results from research work Pact for Skills / Pantour). – Keynote – Sotiroula Liasidou – PHD Assistant Professor Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship Cyprus University of Technology – Christiana Stylianou – PhD Candidate, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship |
14:45 -16:00 | Coffee self – service buffet during sessions |
16:00 -17:00 | Third Session: Authentic Experiences ‘‘Best Practices. Maximize the customer satisfaction” 10’’ minutes presentations – Christina Constantinou – Owner & Managing Director of Vasilias Nikoklis Inn – Maria Solomou – Senior Tourist Officer, Deputy Ministry of Tourism Project manager of the authentic route “Heartland of legends” – Thierry Joubert – Green Visions Balkan – Marcos Zambartas – Oenologist & Director of Zambartas Winery Panel discussion (30’’ minutes) Moderator: Ms. Agne Vaitkuviene, Ph.d |
17:00 – 19:30 | Guided tour + Dinner Meeting point: Forest Park hotel Guided tour to the village of Omodos in Limassol Region |
19:30 | Dinner – ‘’To Katoi‘’ restaurant, Omodos village |
DAY 3
24th of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 11:00 | Fourth Session: Trends & Opportunities in Rural Tourism “The profile of the next generation of travellers” – Mr. Hans Embacher – Managing Director of the Austrian Farm Holidays Association – Mr. Christopher Zenios -Co-Owner and Marketing Director at Web Theoria – Mr. Charis Papacharalambous – Managing Director MTS Globe, Cyprus – Mr. Gabriel Toggenburg – Inclusive design for new installations – the case of Haus Himmelfahrt. Bolzano, Italy (Live Connection) |
11:00 – 11:15 | Conclusions of the congress
|
11:15 – 11:30 | Closure note of the 8th ECRT |
12:00 – 16:30 | Guided Tour + Lunch Meeting Point: Forest Park Hotel Guided tour to the village of Kalopanayiotis, St. John Lambadistis Monastery (UNESCO) and Lambadistis winery. Lunch in ‘’Byzantino restaurant’’ – Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village. Transfer back to the hotel. |
Transfers to the airports |
DAY 3
24th of November
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
09:00 – 11:00 | Fourth Session: Trends & Opportunities in Rural Tourism “The profile of the next generation of travellers” – Espen Blafjelldal – President of Hanen – Organization for Norwegian Rural Tourism and Farm Food, Consultant for restaurants and food/drink producers – 1 travel blogger / influencer – Charis Papacharalambous – Managing Director MTS Globe, Cyprus – Inclusive design for new installations – the case of Haus Himmelfahrt. Gabriel Toggenburg, Bolzano (IT) – tbd |
11:00 – 11:15 | Conclusions of the congress
|
11:15 – 11:30 | Closure note of the 8th ECRT |
12:00 – 16:30 | Guided Tour + Lunch Meeting Point: Forest Park Hotel Guided tour to the village of Kalopanayiotis, St. John Lambadistis Monastery (UNESCO) and Lambadistis winery. Lunch in ‘’Byzantino restaurant’’ – Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village. Transfer back to the hotel. |
Transfers to the airports |