Lia Zampetoglou, Education Manager at the Institute of the “Greek Tourism Confederation, recently took part in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to learn about how the tourism industry could boost Greece’s economic growth.
Along with 25 other professionals from around the world, Ms. Zampetoglou examined strategies and policies to promote tourism at a national and local level; explored trends in tourism (like adventure tourism, cultural tourism, food tourism, family tourism, heritage tourism and eco-tourism); and examined concepts of sustainable and responsible tourism and the role of small business in the tourism industry. Over the course of three weeks, Ms. Zampetoglou visited Washington, DC; Boston, Massachusetts; Burlington, Vermont; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico; and, finally, Seattle, Washington. She met with government officials, NGOs, tourism industry associations, entrepreneurs, as well as local political and community leaders across the U.S.
The study visit is part of U.S. Embassy in Athens’ efforts to generate sustained economic growth for Greece through the tourism industry.
