Collaboration with European ERASMUS+ Project
On 05/10/2022 within the framework of the approved European ERASMUS+ Program entitled “Waste My Love” we collaborated with 50 students and their teachers from Greece, France, Spain and Latvia.
The students visited the Nestos River area where an environmental activity park is operated by @RiverLand (one of our SMES). At the beginning, they were informed by the CE Facilitator @Sofia Tselepidou about the CenTour project and the benefits of applying the circular economy in our daily life and especially in tourism. Then they cleared the area of the trash and did their sorting. They placed the waste in recycling bins which the students themselves made from recyclable materials.
Action in collaboration with Active Citizens of Porto Lagos
On October 16, 2022, we participated in the voluntary action of Active Citizens of Porto Lagos, Municipality of Abdira, Prefecture of Xanthi, for cleaning the thicket behind the port of the settlement (in the old Touristic area) (one of our SMEs @Porto Lagos Rooms is located next to this area).
The area is part of the Natura 2000 Network and protected by the Ramsar Convention. It is an important habitat for dozens of unique species of migratory birds and in the past it was a place of vacation and recreation for all the people of Xanthi. For many years, however, it has been abandoned and gross.
The participation of citizens was great. They were informed by Project Manager @Anthi Panagiotou about the CenTour project and information material was distributed. Also, the little friends were given weekly program forms where the importance of the circular economy is described.
With the wood and pine cones collected, the local cultural association will make Christmas ornaments.
Conference about "Circular Economy in Tourism"
“Circular Economy & Tourism” was the title of the conference organized by the Chamber of Xanthi as part of the implementation of the project entitled “CEnTOUR – Circular Economy in Tourism”, on Friday January 27, 2023 at 18:30 in the event hall of the ELISSO Hotel.
The President of the Chamber of Xanthi, Mr. Stylianos Moraitis, addressed a short greeting to those present.
The Special Partner of the Chamber, Mrs. Anthi Panagiotou – Project Manager of the project, referred to the goals and priorities of the project.
“Circular Economy & Tourism” was the title of the presentation by Mr. Giorgos Kremlis – President of the Espoo Convention, President of the Hellenic Initiative at the UN level for climate and culture, Member of ESAC, EBRD, Honorary Director of the European Commission
Mr. Ioannis Nikolaou – Professor of the Department of Environmental Engineering, IFT, spoke on the topic of “Circular Economy, tourism & hotels”.
Dr. Athanassios Karakatsanis, Director of Recycling Unit, Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems spoke on “Circular Economy and Sunlight Group: commitment and goal”
Finally, Mr. Stefanakis Alexandros, Assistant Professor of the Engineering & Environmental Engineering Department of the Technical University of Crete spoke about “Green solutions for the Circular Economy in water and wastewater management in hotels”
The project entitled “CEnTOUR – Circular Economy in Tourism” is implemented within the framework of the COSME program (European Union program for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises). It started in September 2020 and will last until April 2023. Agencies from Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Moldova and North Macedonia are participating.
World Environment Day
On June 06, 2023, executives of the Xanthi Chamber met with the children from Toxotes Primary School and their teachers, at the Adventure Park next to the Nestos River, in the context of World Environment Day. They were informed about the importance of the circular economy and the practical applications of this model. The children listened to advice and shared their ideas on how they could adopt the circular economy in their daily lives. The children were given leaflets with information about circular economy and pencils.
