XALKIDIKI – A program of business meetings between representatives of the Municipality of Aristotelis and travel agencies in Krakow took place on August 19 with the aim of further strengthening the presence of Eastern Halkidiki in the Polish tourism market.

The meetings focused on travel agencies, which implement holiday programs of important Polish tour operators, such as Grecos, Coral Travel, and Itaka, constituting key links in the promotion and distribution of the region’s tourism product.

A total of four professional contacts were held, during which the “marine” potential of the coastal zone of the Municipality of Aristotelis was mainly presented. Particular emphasis was given to the promotion of Ammouliani , which can be an ideal holiday destination for Polish visitors seeking experiences in an island environment.

At the same time, the gastronomic and wine product of the Municipality of Aristotelis was introduced in Poland, with reference points to the authentic expressions of local production, everyday life, and cultural heritage.

Maria Pappa, Product Executive for Eastern Halkidiki, center, visited travel agencies in Poland and Latvia. Photo: Courtesy of Maria Pappa

These are elements that the Municipality has highlighted in organized thematic pillars of tourism development, strengthening the tourist identity of the region and creating additional incentives to attract travelers.

The same promotional pattern was applied in Riga, Latvia, on August 21, where five scheduled meetings were held with sales managers of respective travel agencies, as well as with executives of the local branches of Itaka and Tez Tour.

The specialized promotion program of the Municipality of Aristotelis essentially presented Eastern Halkidiki to travel agencies, which already transport Polish and Latvian visitors to the region, without the professionals themselves having personal contact with the potential of the destination. The strong demand of Latvians for ‘sun and sea’ – a product that is largely absent from their everyday life – often leads sales managers to simply sell packages, without having cultivated a substantial sense of ‘where I am going and why’.

For this reason, the Municipality of Aristotelis is planning a targeted fam trip for next June, inviting sales managers mainly from the Baltics to get to know Eastern Halkidiki up close, to experience the possibilities and experiences offered by the destination and, most importantly, to get an authentic image of the place through personal contact with it.

The program is part of the broader plan of the Municipality of Aristotelis to approach Russia’s satellite tourist markets, a strategy that is a permanent request of entrepreneurs in the Mount Athos region.

The Largest International Concert That Ierissos Has Ever Hosted—  Marko Marković Orkestar at the Aristotelia.

Maria Pappa, Product Executive for Eastern Halkidiki, at left, visited travel agencies in Poland and Latvia. Photo: Courtesy of Maria Pappa

On Saturday, August 29, 8 PM, the Port of Ierissos becomes the epicenter of the great music festival, the Municipality of Aristotelis announced. The municipality is counting down to the big concert by Marko Marković Orkestar, which is coming to Ierissos as part of the Aristotelia, and promises to be an impressive evening of Serbian and Balkan music.

This is the largest international concert that Ierissos has ever hosted, both in terms of artistic size and musical production, with the participation of 13 top musicians and led by the internationally renowned trumpeter Marko Marković.

The brass instruments, stormy rhythms, virtuosity and explosive stage presence of Marko Marković Orkestar are expected to transform the port of Ierissos into a large music stage, a concert open to all.

The sea of ancient Akanthou, with the backdrop of Mount Athos and the eastern gate of Mount Athos, will be the natural setting for a musical encounter that unites Serbia with Eastern Halkidiki, Balkan tradition with the Aegean, and heritage with contemporary cultural developments.

The concert is a highlight of this year’s Aristotelia program and is held with the support and contribution of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia to the Municipality of Aristotelis.

Ierissos is already preparing to welcome thousands of music fans and experience an evening that aspires to remain one of the most important concert moments in its history.