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The Municipality of Paxos from Greece is organizing two online workshops that will be held on Monday 27^th of September 2021 and Tuesday 28^th of September 2021 at 15:00 p.m. (GR time) in the topics ‘Tourism and Cruise’ and ‘Developing e competitive tourism cruise product’ respectively.

Our speakers with expertise in the field of Tourism Industry and Cruise will present issues related to cruise and tourism in Greece and the factors that contribute to the development of a competitive cruise destination while the new itineraries and cruise holiday packages promoted by THEMIS project in order the Port of Gaios in Paxos to be an important destination for luxury cruises and to be connected with other ports in the Adriatic – Ionian region (Corfu, Manfredonia, Barletta, Bari, Monopoly, Brindisi, Gallipoli) will be discussed.

During the workshops the following topics, among others, will be covered:

• Cruise tourism in Greece and in the post-covid-19 era
• The challenges of the Ports in the Ionian area in order to be able to accept luxury cruises
• Sustainable tourism
• Cruise as a key lever for tourism and the local market
• The Port as a key factor in luxury cruising
• Designing luxurious cruises in Paxos
• Digital promotion of the tourism product – Culture at the service of tourism through the dissemination of intermediate experiences

Register here till Monday 27^th of September 2021.

The workshops will be in Greek via Webex platform through the following links:

• Workshop ‘Tourism and Cruise’, Monday 27^th September 2021, 15:00 p.m. (GR time). CLICK HERE
• Workshop Developing e competitive tourism cruise product’, Tuesday 28^th September 2021, 15:00 p.m. (GR time). CLICK HERE

For additional information: Nadia Karra| n.karra@lp.gr| Living Prospects Ltd. external expert of the Municipality of Paxos for the project THEMIS.

The workshops are organized by the Municipality of Paxos with the technical support of the association of companies Living Prospects Ltd. – Com & Com under the framework of the THEMIS project ‘Territorial and Maritime Networks supporting the small cruises development’  that is co-financed under the Interreg Programme Greece – Italy 2014-2020.

Thank you very much for your interest and active participation.

Yours sincerely,
Municipality of Paxos

The Municipality of Paxos partner of THEMIS project, is organizing the Final Conference of THEMIS project entitled «Adriatic-Ionian – A tourism destination for luxury cruise itineraries».

The Conference will be held virtually on Thursday 30^th of September 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (CET), via Teams.

The aim of the Final Conference is to “bring closer” cruise companies, tour operators, tourism agents, local institutions and other stakeholders to discuss and exchange views over the new luxury cruise itineraries and holiday packages promoted via the THEMIS project, connecting the Ports of the Adriatic – Ionian region.

This is an important event that also concerns small ports located in areas that have not yet utilized the cruise in terms of tourism as the cruise is a dynamic and rapidly growing sector in tourism, with passengers doubling in recent years.

Representatives from the General Secretariat of the Interreg Programme Greece – Italy 2014-2020 will also intervene.

The Conference will be held in English via the following link:  CLICK HERE

THEMIS FINAL CONFERENCE
«Adriatic-Ionian – A tourism destination for luxury cruise itineraries»
Thursday 30^th of September 2021, 10:00 a.m. (CET)

Facilitator: Mrs Nadia Karra, Living Prospects LTD/ External expert of the Municipality of Paxos

The THEMIS Final Conference is organized by the Municipality of Paxos in collaboration with the project partners and with the technical support of the association of companies Living Prospects Ltd. – Com & Com under the framework of the THEMIS project ‘Territorial and Maritime Networks supporting the small cruises development’  that is co-financed under the Interreg Programme Greece – Italy 2014-2020.

For additional information: Nadia Karra| n.karra@lp.gr| Living Prospects Ltd. external expert of the Municipality of Paxos for the project THEMIS.

THEMIS project partners following the decisions and instructions of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, decided to implement the Final Conference online in order to continue the smooth implementation of the project.

Thank you very much for your interest and active participation.

Yours sincerely,
Municipality of Paxos

SEPTEMBER 7th 2021, h 11.00 (CET)

The Interreg Greece-Italy THEMIS project, meant for supporting and enhancing minor ports and cross-boarding connections between main ports and local businesses, reaches another goal: the inauguration of the new tourist reception Terminal into MONOPOLI’S PORT.

The opening event will be held on 7 September 2021, at Monopoli’s Port. The Themis project is financed by the Interregional Territorial Cooperation Program V-A Greece-Italy 2014-2020.

The agenda includes a press conference, in the presence of journalists that will be welcomed outside the terminal, in compliance with COVID-19 regulations. The area will be equipped with monitors and audio speakers, in order to collect all the interventions and agree the interviews.

The event is available online for the public via ZOOM, upon registration on the form on our website. Here the link https://themis.adspmam.it/7-september-monopoli/

Through THEMIS Project the Port Network Authority of Southern Adriatic Sea has been delivering actions under the Union emblem demonstrating true innovation in a resilient period and improving social media image as it had never been able to do before, offering the public the idea of a productive and proactive and not sleepy entity.
THEMIS Project has been selected for the MedCruise Awards 2021 in the two categories. MedCruise is the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports Promotes the cruise industry and unites the ports of ‘Mare Nostrum’ and its adjoining seas.

Vote for Themis and PNA of the Southern Adriatic Seat the following link:

1) MedCruise member with most improved social media image

→ https://www.medcruise.com/social-media-pna-of-the-southern-adriatic-sea-italy

2) MedCruise member Adaptation and Resilience Award. Awarded to the MedCruise member that has demonstrated the best capacity for adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

→ https://www.medcruise.com/resilience-pna-of-the-southern-adriatic-sea-italy

The 3rd edition of the MedCruise Awards will be celebrated on June 11 2021 online. Fingers crossed!

Big participation in the two digital workshops, one meant for the stakeholders in Bari and the other one for the stakeholders of the area of Manfredonia, organized within the framework of the Interregional Project Greece Italy 2014/2020, called THEMIS, and dedicated to stakeholders, companies and  enterprises which want to join this territorial network.

THEMIS is the “umbrella brand” under which thematic tourist packages have been created and new cruise routes  including the minor ports of Puglia and Greece,  are being promoted. Little “terminals” are being built, and since the last month free training courses (courses of English and on safety) dedicated to the personnel working in the ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, have been started. They are aimed at improving the level of the services offered.  Incoming and outcoming activities have also been promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Bari, aiming at involving new Italian and Greek luxury cruise companies in the tourist packages organized. The project is co-financed by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund  (ERDF) and by national funds of Italy and Greece.

Simona De Santis and Marialeila Traversa, on behalf of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, leading partner of the Project, have introduced the meetings and the activities carried out over the last months, by the Port System Authority and by the different partners from Puglia and Greece, notwistanding the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 emergency, to the sector of tourism.

Alessandra Viscito, as representative of Ediguida srl, the company which is working in the communication and promotion of the project  on behalf of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority , has illusrated the activities being carried out, aiming at promoting the Themis brand, while Elena Salzano, EO of inCoerenze srl, expert of marketing and integrated communication, has introduced the Themis territorial network, which is aimed at involving, in the offer of charme experiences and exclusive tourist itineraties dedicated to luxury cruise tourism, the enterprises joining the project and situated on the territory, by offering at least one product meant for luxury tourists.

During the workshop, the attention of the public has been focused on how much tourists wish to live a travelling experience, supported  by valuable services.  A product meant for luxury tourism, is a product  characterized by the sense of uniqueness and authenticity of the travelling experience, which can be not necessarily a luxury experience, but an experience which represents an added value. Products, then, which tell about the territory and the company, authenticity, care for details, which can be communicated, traceable and in foreign languages.

Before drawing up the Themis project, an analysis of the cruise tourist demands has been made. From this analysis it has been found that the experiences preferred are expected to last a few hours (2-4 hours should an itnerary last). The project is meant for attracting cruises which can stop in the minor ports of Puglia, in order to allow their guests to have dinner or enjoy visits or excursions of a whole day. The purpose is that  of fostering the meeting between the offers of the territory and that of the cruise companies, and the demands of this kind of tourists, which Themis is trying to involve as much as possible, by targeting this sector at best, with the intention of enhancing the beauty of the territory, and enlarging the territorial network.

Many companies have taken part in the meetings. The local stakeholders’ offer has resulted to be already rich in a variety of élite services, which the Themis project wants to gather at this step, in order to make them be synergically available and ready to be promoted, by the communication structure presented.

Possible tours around oil mills and cellars have been conceived, in order to tell  the history of old ovens or dairies. Also experiences in luxury spa and wellness centres in caves or in well structured hypogea,  have been suggested, as well as naturalistic horse or bike riding excursions, bird watching, walks in the nature guided by experts, in search of sponaneous herbs to be picked up and cooked.
Among the stakeholders participating in the meetings, there were also massage operators and technicians providing engineering support to luxury boats, even only for very short stays, who have promoted charme tours, thus transforming a little wait time, in a rich experiential travel event.

For further information
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube @interregthemis

On Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th of December, two appointments, one for the local stakeholders in Bari and the other one for the local stakeholders in the area of Manfredonia, will take place, starting from 15.00 hours. The Interregional Project Greece Italy 2014/2020, called THEMIS, has organized a digital workshop meant for local stakeholders, enterprises and companies which want to join the territorial network of THEMIS.

Simona De Santis, on behalf of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority,  Leading Partner of the Project, will introduce the workshop, and present the project and the activities carried out over the last months by the System Port Authority and by the different partners in Puglia and Greece, notwithstanding the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 emergency, to the tourist sector: the Municipality of Gallipoli, the Port Authority of Corfù, the Chamber of Commerce of Bari and the Municipality of Paxos, Greece.

Alessandra Viscito, as representative of Ediguida srl, the company which is working in the communication and promotion of the project  on behalf of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, will show the different activities carried out for the promotion of the Themis brand, in its relationship with local peculiarities and will illustrate the promotional support strategies provided up to now, particularly as regards the towns of Bari and Manfredonia.

The meeting will be closed by Elena Salzano, CEO of  inCoerenze srl, expert of marketing and integrated communication. She will present the territorial network of Themis, which is meant for involving the local enterprises joining the project, in the offer of charme experiences and exclusive luxury cruise tourism itineraries, by suggesting at least one of their products, dedicated to luxury tourists. The network will have visibility in the website, the apps and social nerworks, as well as it will be easily recognizable   by window stickers and the promotional material of the Themis project being available to our customers.

THEMIS is the “umbrella brand” under which thematic tourist packages have been created and new cruise routes  including the minor ports of Puglia and Greece,  are being promoted. Little “terminals” are being built, and since the last month free training courses (courses of English and on safety) dedicated to the personnel working in the ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, have been started. They are aimed at improving the level of the services offered.  Incoming and outcoming activities have also been promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Bari, aiming at involving new Italian and Greek luxury cruise companies in the tourist packages organized. The project is co-financed by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund  (ERDF) and by national funds of Italy and Greece.

For further information
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube @interregthemis

Notwithstanding Covid emergence is still in course, the Themis project goes on, thus representing an occasion to look at the future with optimism and, more realistically, an opportunity for the relaunch of economy. As early as in the next next June the first “luxury” cruise tourists will have the possibility  of enjoying a multi-sense experience which is one in a kind.

THEMIS is an “umbrella brand”, under which, thematic tourist packages have been created and new maritime routes are being promoted. The first works for the building of small “terminals” in all the minor ports involved are currently under way, and starting from the next week, free of charge training courses for the personnel working at the ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, will take place, in order to increase the quality of the services offered.

The first course to start is the course of basic English which will be free of charge and will take place online, in order to comply with the anti-Covid provisions being in force in this delicate period.

The basic course of English is aimed at increasing the language level of the operators of the ports of Bari, Barletta, Manfredonia, Brindisi and Monopoli, particularly of those who work in contact with cruise tourists. The purpose of the project is that, among others, of increasing the quality of the services offered in each port of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority.

The activity has been entrusted to the seat of Bari of the school My English School. The course provides the participation of one hundred participants (an average of 20 participants for each course), with compulsory attendance for at least 80% of the scheduled hours. At the end of the course an attendance certificate will be issued after having passed an exam. In it the level of knowledge of the language will be reported, with reference to the European Framework of Reference for Languages (QCERT). The courses will be held by qualified mothertongue teachers.

For the operators of the Port of di Bari, the course will start on Monday November 23rd (and it will continue all Mondays from 1.00 pm to 5 pm until February 15th), for the operators of Brindisi the course will start on November 24th (and it will continue all Tuesdays from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm  until February 23rd), for the operators of the port of Manfredonia the course will start on November 25th  (and it will continue all Wednesdays from 1.00 pm to 5.00 p.m. until February 24th), for the operators of   Barletta the course will start on November 26th (and it will continue all Thursdays from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm until February 25th) while for the operators of the port of Monopoli the beginning of the course has been fixed on Friday November 27th (and the course will continue all Fridays from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm, until February 26th).

In the meanwhile we are drawing up the schedule of the course on work security at ports, aimed at providing the necessary knowledge required by the National Program of Maritime Security, to the personnel working as employees at the ports, which is not appointed for carrying out security  tasks.

The course will be particularly focused on the single ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority (Supplemented Port Facility Plan). Attendance is free; it has been designed for 100 participants (an average of 20 participants per course) with complulsory attendance for at least 80% of the scheduled hours.

Also in this case, at the end of the course, an exam has to be passed in order to receive a certificate of attendance by the Heraclitus Academy in Catania, a Body accredited by the General Command of Harbour Offices, for the training on maritime security.

For further information
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube @interregthemis

Within the beginning of the next summer season, everything must be ready to welcome the first “luxury” cruise tourists.

THEMIS is an “umbrella brand”, under which thematic package tours have been created and new sea routes are being promoted. The first construction works of little “terminals” are underway in all the minor ports involved and in a short time, free training courses for the personnel working in the ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority will be organized, in order to improve the level of the services offered.

Two courses will be started by the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority: a basic English course and a course focused on the security of workers at the ports. They are both free of charge, they will be carried out on line, in order to comply with the anti-Covid provisions being in force in this delicate period.

BASIC ENGLISH COURSE

The Basic EngIlish Course is aimed at improving the language level of the operators at the ports of Bari, Barletta, Manfredonia, Brindisi and Monopoli, particularly those working in contact with cruise tourists. The final goal of the project is, among others, that of raising the quality level of the services offered in each port of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority.

This activity has been entrusted to the private school My English School (seat of Bari). The course provides the participation of one hundred participants (an average of 20 participants for each course), with compulsory attendance for at least 80% of the scheduled hours. At the end of the courses an attendance certificate will be issued after having passed an exam. In it the level of knowledge of the language will be reported, with reference to the European Framework of Reference for Languages (QCERT). The courses will be held by qualified mothertongue teachers.

COURSE ABOUT MARITIME SAFETY FOR PORT OPERATORS

This course is meant for providing the necessary knowledge referred to by the National Program of Maritime Safety, to the personnel working as employees at the ports, which is not appointed for carrying out safety  tasks.

This course wll be particularly focused on the single ports of the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority (Supplemented Port Facility Plan). Attendance is free; it has been designed for 100 participants (an average of 20 participants per course) with complulsory attendance for at least 80% of the scheduled hours.

Also in this case, at the end of the course, an exam has to be passed in order to receive a certificate of attendance by the Heraclitus Academy in Catania, a Body accredited by the General Command of Harbour Offices, for the training on maritime safety.

The teachers of this course are certified trainers on maritime safety, as it is recommended by the National Maritime Safety Program (NMSP), and are qualified as having 5 years of experience in the teaching or operational field, about the subject of the course.

For further information
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube @interregthemis

The Southern Adriatic Ports Authority, which includes the ports of Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta and Monopoli,  has taken part today, Wednesday 7th of October, in the Seatrade Cruise Virtual.

Because of the health emergency still in course today,  SEATRADE, a leading brand in the organization of events dedicated to the cruise sector, has created a new virtual edition, which is going to end tomorrow, October 8th, and which is just called “Seatrade Cruise Virtual”.

The purpose of this event is that of starting a platform as a valid alternative allowing the players of the cruise community to connect with each other, in order to guarantee the continuity of the personal interaction and the interaction between businesses of the sector, developed over the last years.

The participation in the Seatrade Cruise Virtual has also represented an opportunity for introducing the THEMIS project to the companies working in the luxury sector.  In this circumstance the Southern Adriatic Ports Authority has also participated as leading partner of  the project, in which also the  Municipality of Gallipoli, the Chamber of Commerce in Bari, the Port Authority of  Corfù and the Mucipality of Paxos take part.

At the virtual launch meeting, the most important brands of the luxury and ultra-luxury cruise tourism have been invited, such as Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Compagnie du Ponant, Variety cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clipper, Windstar Cruises.

The Themis project, financed by the Interregional Territorial Cooperation Program V-A Greece-Italy 2014-2020, is meant for supporting the development and the activities of the minor ports, in order to direct the maritime traffic, particularly the cruise one, towards territories which are still undeveloped from a tourist point of view.

The purpose is that of fostering, under the common brand of the THEMIS project,  the meeting of the luxury cruise offer with the offer of  selected package tours, intended as multisense exclusive experiences, allowing cruise passengers to spend unforgettable stays both on the open sea and in charming places, which are seldom included in the conventional tourist circuits.

The project consists of more segments, planning tourist land itineraries attracting  cruise passengers “eager” to land in minor ports and small passenger terminals, as well as new landing places for small cruises and maxi yachts.

For the beginning of the next summer season everything will be ready to welcome the first THEMIS cruise passengers.

Everyone participating in the event has also been presented with the promotional video, as an international preview.

To support the development and the activities of the minor ports, in order to develop activities, directing the sea traffic, particularly the cruise one, towards territories which are still underdeveloped from a tourist point of view and to strengthen the connections with the main ports: these are, in brief, the goals of the Themis Project.

To speak about only “holiday packages” would be reductive: the experience offered by this project is a real multi-sense experience for luxury cruise passengers.  Exclusive packages are offered to those who want to spend unforgettable and luxury stays  both in the open sea and in charming places, seldom included in the usual tourist circuits. From one side, then, tourists will have the possibility to enjoy a unique experience one of a kind, on the other side the territories, thanks to this project, will have the possibility of recovering from a difficult and complex period- suffered above all by the tourist and economic sector in general-due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The entities involved as partners, are: the Port System Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea, the Town Council of Gallipoli, the Corfù Port Authority, the Chamber of Commerce of Bari and the Town Council of Paxos, in Greece. More specifically, the Town Councils of Barletta, Monopoli and Brindisi, and indirectly also the Town Councils of Bari and Manfredonia, guided by the Port System Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea, are carrying out a campaign of territorial marketing, aiming at promoting the Themis brand, linking it to the local tourist potentials, with the help of the businesses of the respective territories. Unioncamere, instead, has got the task of supporting the incoming, outgoing and training  activities being in charge of the Chamber of Commerce in Bari.

All the bodies, each one according to its own competence and working in synergy with each other, are doing a complex and well structured job for relaunching theis territories.

The intention, then, is that of enhancing maritime  transport, and cross-border connectivity, supporting the development and activities of the minor ports, including them in the cross-border and regional routes, and directing the traffic of the passengers, particularly of the small cruises and maxi yachts, towards territories which have not been exploited yet, from a tourist cruise point of view, thus strengthening, at the same time, the connections with the main ports.

For making the relaunch of the minor ports really possible, they are working on different sides, offering tourists solutions aiming at fostering a thorough knowledge of the territory, as regards food, nature, culture, wellbeing and the experiences connected with the territory itself.

In order to make the offer even more attractive, light infrastructural works are being implemented for all the ports managed by AdSP MAM (Manfredonia, Barletta, Monopoli), for the port of Gallipoli and the port of

Gaios (Paxos), meant for the reception of passengers. The works will be completed within the first quarter of 2021, in order to be ready for the next season.

In order to reach these goals, we have started from the international analysis of the demand of tourist services on the Apulian territory, aiming at identifying a specific market for potential investors, and then working on the creation of tourist packages, designed on specific thematic itineraries, according to the above said analysis and incoming activities of tourist buyers linked to the cruise tourism.

They are now working at the international promotion of tourist packages and the respective planning opportunites of new landing points in the ports involved into this project, particularly as regards little cruises and maxi yachts, and the creation of a common brand for identifying the territories involved.

At the same time, the port personnel, in order to improve the level of the services offered, will be involved in special training courses.

The results that the Themis Project intends to obtain, are as follows:

the joint development of the tourist sector and of the maritime port one, being characteristic and fundamental in both the economies of the two countries;

the improvement of the promotional efficiency of the territory, thanks to the integrated collaboration of the public bodies involved;

better accommodation services and structures in the ports of Manfredonia, Monopoli, Barletta, Gallipoli and Paxos;

better tourist commercial promotion of the territories of Gargano, central Puglia, southern Salento and of the islands of Corfù with its little harbours;

deseasonalization of the traffic and of the flows of passengers in the minor port areas;

development of the services and industries associated with tourism in the territorial areas involved.

“Our challenge is that of offering certainties and services, investments and new proposals, above all in this so delicate period we are living, because of the so heavy repercussions connected with Covid emergency”, sustains the chairman of AdSP MAM Ugo Patroni Griffi. “A cyclic economy, like that of the cruises (and in more in general of the shipping sector), produces important and positive effects, not only on the port but also any time a ship approaches a pier and the passengers get off for excursions or overnight stays. Our ports, both for their geographical position and the special services offered, fully meet the most frequent demand of companies: the multi-destination cruise. By Themis we aim at encouraging the sector of cruises, particularly of luxury cruises, the segment of the whole tourist sector, registering the highest growth rate. We are significantly enhancing our offer-  Patroni Griffi concludes-and accepting the new challenges that the market issues to us.”