Kostas Zivas writes……
Watching the really good video of the SUP 2017 event which will take place in Agios Nikolaos over the May Day Holiday weekend, I became gloomy. One small event, aimed at a very small section of the public, managed to create such a strong marketing tool, whilst the entire Municipality, with such a huge history in tourism and with huge reserves, remains fast asleep.
In the last fifteen years, “Agios” had it’s own saint and so it wasn’t written off the tourist map, for two reasons:
Large hoteliers, old and new, have made huge investments, which through their own hard work and effort, they have managed to fill. The result being that anyone wanting to find work, could in these hotels and as a result, there is no unemployment.
Secondly, because the other areas of Crete, from Hersonissos until Chania, who have grown dramatically, send us busloads of day trip visitors, who spend a few hours here in the town centre.
After six in the evening, the town becomes a graveyard. Not that there is that much activity in the daytime, with the tourists that are here for a few hours, buying the odd fridge magnet or an ice-cream.
In the evenings, we go out amongst ourselves and talk amongst ourselves. You know, they will tell you, we need to find our tourist identity, they will ask for tenders then, to develop the idea and bla, bla, bla, four years have passed.
Then, we start the same discussion all over again. To find our identity and bla, bla, bla and another four years are over. We have got used to the misery. The public leaders have got settled in the last fifteen years. They fix the odd pavement in a forgotten neighbourhood, fix a couple of street lamps, lay tarmac on a road here and there, managing the daily routine for a while and then moving on.
I ask, simply, how hard would it be for the local Municipality to make ten videos, like the SUP video, that would advertise our ever safe and beautiful beaches?
A second video to advertise the churches and the monasteries in our area?
A third to promote the archeological sites?
A fourth to show the opportunities for walking, climbing, adventure?
A fifth to advertise our cuisine and our superb restaurants, cafes and bars?
A sixth to advertise our super hotels and also the simple, cheaper places to stay?
All of these could go onto the youtube channel of the Municipality, on Instagram, on the facebook page of the Municipality. And initially, with paid advertising by the Council, and then with all of us to share them everywhere over and over again. Wouldn’t we be the best social messengers?
To show the tourist that is here or in his home, our amazing place!! How difficult is it for for the No.1 tourist area in Crete, the Municipality with millions of financial surplus? How hard is it first of all, to do, rather than ask eternally? To create tourist infrastructure, physically and on the web, to support the one most important thing, that is the basic reason for the existence of this area?
Finally, how difficult is it? I know, let’s sit and talk about it first, to find our identity and bla, bla, bla….