The Region of South Aegean is participating in the international discussion on the future of tourism in island regions, as the only European region at the 27th International Inter-Island Tourism Policy Forum (ITOP Forum – ITOP Forum), taking place from October 28 to 30, 2026, on Jeju Island in South Korea (Jeju Stone Park).
The invitation to the Regional Governor of the South Aegean, George Hatzimarkos, recognizes the experience of a region that combines its leading position in Greek tourism with the implementation of policies for sustainable development, green transition, and climate resilience. For the first time in 13 years, ITOP is expanding its membership network, incorporating the South Aegean from Europe into the new strategy for international cooperation among island regions.
The ITOP Forum, founded in 1997, serves as an international platform for cooperation among island governments and regions from Asia, the Americas, and Africa. This year’s event, attended by approximately 450 representatives from 16 countries, international organizations, and the tourism industry, has as its central theme “BEYOND ISLANDS: Empowering the Innovative Future Through Tourism” (“Beyond the Islands: Shaping an Innovative Future Through Tourism”), highlighting the role of islands as hubs of innovation and sources of solutions to the challenges of the future.
The Region of South Aegean will be represented by Regional Governor George Hatzimarkos, who will participate in the ITOP Leaders Roundtable, alongside the heads of the participating island governments and regions, as well as a representative of the leadership of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).
Meanwhile, on Thursday, October 29, during the panel discussion titled “Our Shared Promise for Sustainable Islands,” Vasia Papaelia, Director of Policy Planning at the Office of the Governor of the Region of South Aegean, will present implemented policies and best practices from islands in the region: from on-demand electric mobility in Astypalea and the first zero-carbon energy model on Halki, to the world’s first zero-waste island community, Tilos, and sustainable destination management in Rhodes. The panel will be moderated by Godfrey Baldacchino, a professor at the University of Malta, with participants including Eunji Tae, UNWTO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and a representative from the Galápagos, who will discuss the transition from international sustainability goals to concrete, actionable policies.
Also participating in the Region of South Aegean’s delegation is Giorgos Minatsis, Director of Sustainable Tourism Development, with the aim of exchanging expertise and documenting best practices and innovative policies from other island regions, which can be utilized in planning initiatives for the sustainable tourism development of the South Aegean islands.
Participation in the ITOP Forum strengthens the South Aegean’s international presence and opens new channels for cooperation and the exchange of know-how with island regions around the world, highlighting its islands not only as leading tourist destinations but also as testing grounds for innovative policies.
The Regional Governor of the South Aegean, George Hatzimarkos, stated: “For the South Aegean, outreach is a tool for policy, cooperation, and effectively advocating for a stronger role for the islands in shaping the future of tourism. We are participating in this international discussion by sharing the experience of our islands—not only through their strong tourism performance, but primarily through the policies we implement in practice. Because we believe that islands are not just destinations. They can be pioneers in shaping solutions for the future. Even our smallest islands can—and are—paving the way to address the greatest challenges of our time and of our planet.”
