The tourism sector is an important challenge for all the Regional Units, including the Region of Western Greece. The Region is offered for the development of many different types of tourism, combining traditional and alternative forms of tourism, while it is accessible in various ways.
. The synergies of the tourism sector with other economic sectors (e.g. the primary sector) along with the development of alternative forms of tourism, could offer substantial potential for growth. At the same time, in the Region of Western Greece, we expect significant investments with regards to the development of tourist infrastructure, including large-scale investments. It is particularly important that all the Regional Units of RWG are appropriate for further development of their tourism product, taking advantage of the special features and competitive advantages of each of them.
The sector contributes significantly to the economy of the Region of Western Greece. In particular, the RWG attracted almost 817 thousand tourists in 2019, with a total revenue of over € 250 million. At the same time, the tourism sector is one of the main employers in the RWG, as companies in the tourism industry employ almost 18 thousand employees in the Region.
The tourism sector is a priority for the Region of Western Greece and therefore, several financial tools are available, targeting its further development at national and European level.
According to KEPE*, the GDP multiplier for the sector amounts to 1.34, while the employment multiplier stands at 19 (per million investments). Practically speaking, this means that for every € 1 million of investments, the regional GDP will increase by € 1.34 million and 19 new jobs will be created.
* The Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE)
Why investing in RWG?
Combination of traditional and alternative forms of tourism:
The Region of Western Greece has the privilege to be able to combine traditional (based on the "sun - sea" scheme) and alternative forms of tourism, including cultural / religious tourism, walking tourism, thermal waters tourism and so on. .
Multimodal accessibility (by air, road, ferry):
The Region of Western Greece is accessible to visitors in many ways. By air through its two airports, by road through Olympia and Ionia Odos, as well as by ferry through the port of Patras and the port of Kyllini.
Plenty of beaches with blue flag award:
The Region of Western Greece has a plethora of high quality beaches, awarded with a blue flag. In particular, in RWG there are 18 beaches with blue flag (most of them are located in Achaea and Aetolia-Acarnania), which contributes to the strengthening of the tourist brand of the Region, acting as a pole of attraction for tourists looking for high quality beaches during their summer holidays.
Plenty of cultural monuments and traditional settlements:
One of the most important cultural heritage sites in the world, the archeological site of Olympia, which is included in the list of UNESCO monuments and is a pole of attraction for tourists from all over the world, is located in the Region of Western Greece.. At the same time, there are 5 traditional settlements (in Achaea and Aetolia-Acarnania) whilst, other important cultural monuments are found across all the Regional Units.
Opportunities for hiking, climbing, canoe-kayak, rafting, sailing, diving, winter sports:
The Region of Western Greece offers considerable opportunities for the development of various sports. In the Regional Units of Achaea and Ilia there are many hiking trails, and, the Regional Unit of Aetolia-Acarnania has significant potential for canoe kayak. In addition, in all the Regional Units there are rivers that are offered for rafting. The RWG offers an opportunity for the potential development of sailing, due to the favorable conditions in the Ionian Sea. In addition, the operation of the ski center in Kalavryta, is a pole of attraction for athletes during the winter season, contributing to the extension of the tourist season.
Dominant position of the traditional “Patras Carnical”:
The Patras Carnival is an important cultural event for the region which attracts a large number of visitors every year. It has a symbolic meaning for the Region and contributes to its growth, while it is a key pole for the development of city tourism.
Cruise Port in Katakolo:
The port of Katakolo is a pole of attraction for cruise ships and is the most important cruise port in Western Greece, offering significant revenue in the region.
Plenty of thermal waters destinations:
Thermal water tourism is an important pillar of tourism in the Region of Western Greece. In particular, in RWG there are 6 thermal springs, located in the Regional Units of Aetolia-Acarnania and Ilia.