Following an invitation from the Mediterranean Centre for Environment (MCE), one of the country’s oldest and most active organizations working on the development of special forms of tourism in dialogue with heritage, we had the pleasure and honor of sharing the expertise of our organization at a meeting of the trainers’ working group of MCE’s European DETOUR programme.

The DETOUR programme is a project of the Mediterranean Centre for Environment in partnership with other European organizations. Its aim is to provide educational, technical and financial support to small tourism businesses operating near hiking and cycling routes in the mountains of Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, helping them invest in these forms of tourism while enriching the tourism “product” of their regions.

Thus, from 21–23 November 2025, within the framework of the DETOUR programme, a training course was held in the area of Ano Poroia, Lake Kerkini, for eight representatives from different sectors involved in the development and operation of these forms of tourism in the aforementioned areas.

Olga Karagianni, representing the organization and the Andros Routes initiative, travelled to Kerkini and presented to the participants the development of the trail initiative on Andros, the maintenance and operation of the hiking routes, as well as the complementary research and actions for the protection and promotion of selected elements of Andros’s rural heritage.

Noteworthy was the fact that representatives of the municipal authority of the Municipality of Agia, the local Development Company and the Region also participated in the training. Within the framework of the seminar, an exceptionally fruitful dialogue and exchange of experiences took place—a process that proved very beneficial for our own organization as well.

Warm thanks to the participants and the organizers for the particularly productive process, which actively contributes to the creation of a national community that cares for and works toward the country’s hiking trail network.

Below we quote an excerpt from the press release of the European DETOUR programme referring to Andros:

“In Greece, 12 local tourism professionals, public representatives, and outdoor activity providers participated in the DETOUR three-day Training of Trainers in Ano Poria, organized by the Mediterranean Center of Environment. Future DETOUR trainers explored green tourism strategies, digital mapping tools, and trail management, with examples from the Via Francigena and Andros Routes. Site visits to Lake Kerkini and traditional guesthouses highlighted local walking and birdwatching initiatives. The training concluded with discussions on the DETOUR project’s role and the awarding of certificates, preparing the Greek trainers for the next steps of the project.”