The Western Silk Road in Greece
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The Western Silk Road in Greece Kostopoulou Stella Scientific Supervisor Kyriakou Dimitrios Malisiova Sevasti Sofianou Evina Toufengopoulou Anastasia Xanthopoulou–Tsitsoni Valia Silk Road Programme 2016 Western Silk Road Tourism Initiative A UNWTO-EU Initiative This study is part of the Western Silk Road Tourism Development Initiative, a joint cooperation between the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Directorate- General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG Grow) of the European Commission (EC). Western Silk Road in Greece Research Team Stella Kostopoulou is Associate Professor of Regional and Tourism Development at the Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh). She has also taught at Cyprus University of Technology, Hellenic Open University, International Hellenic University, Democritus University of Thrace, University of Thessaly, and gave lectures and seminars at Universities abroad (Peking University, La Trobe University, York University). She is Departmental ECTS/Erasmus/LLP Coordinator of the Stella Kostopoulou Department of Economics, AUTh. Her research interests Associate Professor include regional economics and planning, tourism Aristotle University of Thessaloniki development, cultural industries and local development. She Department of Economics has participated in 70 international and national Tel: +30 2310 996423, +30 6932236366 conferences and published in international journals. E-mail: [email protected] Dimitrios Kyriakou is an Economist and PhD Candidate in Tourism and Regional Development at the Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Greece. He holds a BSc in Economics and Regional Development (Panteion University, Greece), an MBA in Business Finance Management (The University of Liverpool, UK) and an MSc in Tourism Management (University of Surrey, UK). He is member of the teaching team in the undergraduate courses “Tourism Development”, “Regional Development” and “Economic Geography”, Department of Economics, AUTh. He has been collaborating as external Dimitrios Kyriakou consultant in public and private bodies regarding EU PhD Candidate framework schemes and projects. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Economics Phone : +30 6978295499 Email: [email protected] Sevi Malisiova is an Economist and PhD Candidate in Tourism and Regional Development at the Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Greece. She holds a BSc in Business Administration (University of Macedonia, Greece) and an MSc in Economic & Regional Development (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). She is member of the teaching team in the undergraduate courses “Tourism Development”, “Regional Development” and “Economic Geography”, Department of Economics, AUTh. Her PhD research focuses on “cultural Sevi Malisiova industries and tourism development in peripheral areas” to PhD Candidate explore the relation between creative and cultural industries Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and tourism. She has presented her work in international Department of Economics and national conferences. Phone: +30 6947462212 Email: [email protected] [i] Evina Sofianou is an Architect Engineer and PhD candidate in Regional Development at the Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Greece. She holds a BSc in Architecture and an MSc in Environmental Protection & Sustainable Development (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). Her PhD research focuses on Polycentric Sustainable Development. Her research interests include issues on urban and regional planning, urban regeneration and spatial management, environmental and energy planning, in the light of cultural Evina Sofianou Architect Engineer, PhD candidate heritage protection and sustainable tourism. She works as Aristotle University of Thessaloniki an Architect Engineer in private construction firms and is Department of Civil Engineering member of the teaching team in the undergraduate course Tel: +30 2310997107, +30 6396 994 491 “Technical Drawing”, Department of Civil Engineering, AUTh. Email: [email protected] Dr. Anastasia Toufengopoulou is an Urban and Regional Planner and holds a PhD in Spatial Planning by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), specialising in Tourism. She is Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for the undergraduate course “Tourism Development” and member of the teaching team in the postgraduate course "Geographic Dynamics and Modern Restructure in Greek Space" (School of Architecture, NTUA). She has been Dr. Anastasia Toufengopoulou involved in 10 research projects and distinguished with Urban and Regional Planner awards by various bodies for her overall performance in her National Technical University of Athens studies. She is the author of twenty five publications, School of Architecture conference proposals. Phone +30 6944304101 Email: [email protected] Valia Xanthopoulou – Tsitsoni is an Economist and PhD Candidate in Tourism and Regional Development at the Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She holds a BSc in Economics (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and an MSc in Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment (Bocconi University in Milan), with scholarship. Her PhD research focuses on “Cultural industries and tourism development: branding the creative city.” She is member of the teaching team in the undergraduate courses “Tourism Valia Xanthopoulou-Tsitsoni Development”, “Regional Development” and “Economic PhD Candidate Geography”, Department of Economics, AUTh. She has Aristotle University of Thessaloniki participated in 9 research projects, national and Department of Economics international conferences and published 6 scientific papers. Phone: +30 6937178524 Email: [email protected] [ii] Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION _______________________________________________________________ 1 1.1 Silk Road Overview ______________________________________________________________________ 1 1.2 Methodological Approach _____________________________________________________________ 3 1.3 Brief historical overview highlighting Greece’s cultural assets connected with the Silk Road __________________________________________________________________________________ 5 1.4 Tourism Development in Greece. The components of WSR Tourism Brand ___ 6 CHAPTER 2: THE WSR REGIONAL SWOT ANALYSIS OF GREECE _____________________ 8 2.1 REGION OF EASTERN MACEDONIA AND THRACE __________________________________ 8 A. Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace profile analysis _______________________ 8 2.1.1 Location-Administrative Profile of the Region ______________________________________________ 8 2.1.2 Geographical and geophysical characteristics_______________________________________________ 9 2.1.3 History of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region __________________________________________ 9 2.1.4 Demographic characteristics _______________________________________________________________ 10 2.1.5 Development profile of the Region _________________________________________________________ 11 a. Economic characteristics _____________________________________________________________________ 11 b. Transport infrastructure _____________________________________________________________________ 13 2.1.6 Tourism development emphasizing on cultural heritage ________________________________ 15 2.1.7 Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace tangible and intangible cultural heritage related to the Silk Road _____________________________________________________________________________ 16 B. Eastern Macedonia And Thrace Region: Swot Analysis ___________________________ 28 2.2 CENTRAL MACEDONIA REGION ______________________________________________________ 31 A Region of Central Macedonia profile analysis _______________________________________ 31 2.2.1 Location-Administrative Profile of the Region ____________________________________________ 31 2.2.2 Geographical and geophysical characteristics_____________________________________________ 32 2.2.3 History of Central Macedonia Region ______________________________________________________ 33 2.2.4 Demographic characteristics _______________________________________________________________ 35 2.2.5 Development profile of the Region _________________________________________________________ 36 a. Economic characteristics ____________________________________________________________________ 36 b. Transport infrastructure _____________________________________________________________________ 38 2.2.6 Tourism development emphasizing on cultural heritage ________________________________ 38 2.2.7 Region of Central Macedonia tangible and intangible cultural heritage related to the Silk Road _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 39 B. Central Macedonia Region: Swot Analysis ___________________________________________ 53 2.3 WESTERN MACEDONIA REGION _____________________________________________________ 56 2.3.1 Location-Administrative Profile of the Region ____________________________________________ 56 2.3.2 Geographical and geophysical information ________________________________________________ 56 2.3.3 History of Western Macedonia Region _____________________________________________________ 57 2.3.4 Demographic characteristics _______________________________________________________________ 58 2.3.5 Development profile of