Press Release: Sustainable Urban Tourism at the Forefront: Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli Hosts European Partners for the Opening Study Visit of the GreCO – Green Cultural Oases Project

The Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli successfully organised the Opening Study Visit of the European project GreCO – Green Cultural Oases, implemented under the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions (EUI-IA) framework.

The two-day meeting brought together project and transfer partners from Botoșani (Romania), Milazzo (Italy) and Senglea (Malta), aiming to exchange knowledge on sustainable tourism, innovation, technology and cooperation that contributes to making cities better places to live and visit.

During the two-day event, participants were introduced to the innovative GreCO project and its contribution to sustainable tourism, with emphasis on environmental and cultural resource mapping, digital ecosystems and innovative urban routes. The programme included workshops, peer-learning sessions and guided tours along the Municipality’s cultural routes and the Ellinikon investment area, demonstrating how smart technologies and cultural assets can enhance urban tourism in a sustainable way.

The Opening Study Visit strengthened cooperation among European cities, enabling partners to explore how the GreCO model can be adapted to their local contexts. Academic contributions from the University of Piraeus and the National Technical University of Athens, technical presentations of the GreCO digital platform by Zelus, and interactive transfer workshops organised by the Municipality contributed to shaping common knowledge-transfer pathways.

The Mayor of Elliniko–Argyroupoli, Mr. Ioannis Konstantatos, welcomed the European partners to the Municipal Council Chamber, stating, among other things:

“Today, the Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli represents one of the most dynamic examples of development and forward-looking vision in Greece. What has often been missing from public life is technocratic and scientific planning that allows cities to respond effectively and in a timely manner to major challenges. Our city is called upon to manage a new reality: tens of thousands of new residents, new businesses, investments, hotels, shopping centres, as well as the Metropolitan Park of Ellinikon”.

He continued:
“This is why we actively participate in European programmes such as GreCO, investing in knowledge, cooperation and strategic planning for the transition to a new era. The Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli is proud to host distinguished representatives of municipalities from across Europe, research and academic institutions, as well as organisations with long-standing expertise in tourism and technology. We firmly believe that culture, the environment and technology can shape a new, sustainable model of urban tourism with practical application in our city. Future visitors will experience Greece not only through the Acropolis and the landmarks of Attica, but also through Ellinikon. We represent the modern face of the country, deeply rooted in a history that spans over 3,000 years — a heritage we are committed to highlighting, including through the construction of the World Pontian Hellenism Hall in Ellinikon”.

The Mayor of Senglea, Malta, Mr. Clive Pulis, added:
“This cooperation under GreCO is extremely valuable for Senglea. Through our participation in GreCO, we aim to adopt innovative tools for optimising tourism flows and strengthening environmental monitoring, ensuring that growth remains sustainable and beneficial for both residents and visitors”.

During a dedicated meeting between the Mayor of Elliniko–Argyroupoli, Mr. Ioannis Konstantatos, and the Mayor of Senglea, Mr. Clive Pulis, the two sides agreed to further expand their relations through mutual visits, with the prospect of establishing a twinning partnership between the two cities.

About the GreCO Project
GreCO is a dynamic collaboration of people and organisations from multiple sectors — public authorities, universities, businesses and civil society — joining forces with a common goal: to create a balanced, sustainable and people-centred tourism destination in the Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli.
Through this partnership, a tourism model is being designed that respects the environment, supports the local community and embraces cultural diversity — always with a forward-looking perspective.

 About the Partnership
The GreCO consortium follows the Quadruple Helix model, connecting public authorities, industry, academia and civil society.
The Municipality of Elliniko–Argyroupoli provides expertise in local governance and stakeholder engagement, while its Development Organisation “Elliniko Anelixis” is responsible for project management and evaluation. The University of Piraeus contributes multidisciplinary research on tourism, culture and sustainability, and Zelus delivers advanced data visualisation and AI-driven analytics.
The National Technical University of Athens, through its Laboratory of Photogrammetry and the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, specialises in urban planning, augmented reality technologies and traffic management. The National Observatory of Athens supports Big Data integration and AI-based environmental modelling, while SPAY leads citizen engagement, ensuring that the interests of local and neighbouring communities are fully considered.
This collaboration ensures a holistic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges of sustainable urban tourism and makes the partnership a key driver of the project’s success.

The Opening Study Visit marks a significant milestone in the GreCO transfer process and lays the foundation for continued cooperation, knowledge exchange and the implementation of sustainable tourism strategies among the participating European cities.

Press Release on the Municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli website