All of us who participate in the Go alternative in Greece Project with Kalymnos being the first destination comprise the alternet Synergy Network. Whether we are businesses who provide tourism services exclusively or whether we are businesses providing services relevant to other interests or needs visitors may have, we all collaborate fully aware of the need to upgrade our land’s tourism product.
As its name characteristically denotes, alternet expresses the alternative way of thought and action behind this joint effort. It expresses a new philosophy on thinking about and planning a destination so that the latter may acquire an identity and fulfill all tastes even those of visitors who have specialized needs.
It encourages the spirit of competition and collaboration among businesses; it sets the prerequisites for participation in the tourism product by other professional branches as well; and it promotes the need for mutual respect, for equality, and compliance with the rules when it comes to any development effort as the only way to combat cursory planning and unfair competition.
In the same way that it tends to the progress and just interests of the network’s businesses, alternet also safeguards the just interests of the network’s visitors-members. So that it may showcase and promote the network’s businesses among consumers, alternet sets as a non-negotiable stipulation that those business are in possession of an accreditation badge, an operation license. It also sets other specific criteria regarding the quality those businesses’ venues and services provide. In turn, it requires visitors-members that they select services exclusively from the list of businesses participating in the network so that they may benefit from the privileges and special prices offered.
The project has a dual nature: Apart from its focus on visitor needs and the creation of privileges for them, the project also focuses particularly on what local businesses lack in. At no cost to those businesses, it supports them in every possible way through consulting, training, and planning so that they may improve their product, think in alternative ways, acquire identity, promote themselves in a modern way, and achieve optimal results.
The goal of the overall effort is common to all its participants. It aims at showcasing Kalymnos as a model Greek tourism destination, something that will significantly strengthen the island’s economic activity and employment prospects. It enjoys the moral support of the Municipality and of the South Aegean Region.
The person responsible for project implementation is Ms Kalliopi Tsagari.
