Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that Culture can emerge as a central pillar of development, in his address earlier on Thursday during the presentation of the “ Hellenic Heritage” programme, which focuses on introducing innovative services to upgrade visitor experience at archaeological sites and museums.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture at the National Gallery, aims to enhance the promotion of Greece’s cultural heritage. In his speech, Mitsotakis underlined that culture can make a substantial contribution to extending the tourist season, with the goal of transforming Greece into a year-round destination.
Referring to the event, the prime minister spoke of “a special day for Greek culture”, describing the project as one of national importance, which leverages technology as a central gateway to Greece’s cultural wealth.
Mitsotakis also described the project as “ emblematic,” noting that it makes use of cutting-edge technology, enabling visitors to explore and understand the past through modern digital tools. He pointed out that visits to archaeological sites and museums are now being transformed into a holistic experience, featuring special services for people with disabilities, as well as digital guides in eight different languages, with international sign language to be added soon.
He then praised the contribution and role of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, which – he noted – was negotiated by the government during the years of the pandemic, emphasising that now that the project has been completed, its results are clearly visible to all.
Mitsotakis also stated that Greece possesses a unique cultural wealth, and that the digital application showcasing it must be equally unique. He made special reference to the link between cultural heritage and tourism, and by extension economic growth, noting that more tourists will now be drawn to Greece to discover its culture, as the new digital ecosystem substantially upgrades the visitor experience at museums and archaeological sites.
Concluding his remarks, Mitsotakis emphasised that “ Hellenic Heritage” enables the promotion of culture and increases visitor numbers across all archaeological sites.
Source: ANA-MPA
