- The Region of Crete attended the Greek Tourism Workshop in Ghent, Belgium, as part of its 2026 tourism promotion campaign.
- Over 40 Belgian tour operators and travel professionals showed up, asking real questions about hiking, wine, gastronomy, culture, and actual holidays (not just poolside lounging).
- Crete’s presentation, complete with traditional cheese, graviera, and raki tastings, was a hit.
- The island was proudly announced as Europe’s Gastronomic Region for 2026.
The Region of Crete travelled all the way to rainy Belgium to remind everyone that authentic travel still exists, and yes, people are still interested in it.
At the Greek Tourism Workshop in Ghent, the Cretan delegation (led by Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou) met with more than 40 Belgian tour operators and hospitality professionals who, shockingly, wanted to talk about real experiences instead of just booking another all-inclusive cage.
The Belgians were particularly keen on hiking, wine routes, gastronomic journeys, and group trips focused on Crete’s rich history and culture. According to the organisers, there is a clear shift away from “hotel imprisonment” toward proper exploration and discovery.
Cretan Authenticity Served with Cheese and Raki
What really impressed the audience was Crete’s presentation, which focused on the island’s recent designation as one of the European Regions of Gastronomy for 2026, along with Malta’s Gozo and Croatia’s
Kvarner. The digital strategy also raised eyebrows, particularly the user-friendly incrediblecrete.gr platform, which offers interactive maps and handy QR codes that make it easy for both professionals and future visitors to find and save information.
To complete the experience (and stay true to Cretan hospitality), the delegation generously offered traditional local delicacies like anthotyro, graviera, and raki (tsikoudia, not to be confused with the anise-infused Turkish raki), because nothing says “serious business meeting” like free cheese and a strong spirit at 11 a.m.
Even with Geopolitics Looming, Crete Still Shining
In his statement, Dr. Kotsoglou noted that while dark clouds hover over the Middle East, Crete continues to shine as a safe, diverse, and delicious destination. He optimistically declared that as soon as those clouds pass, the sun will shine again — especially for the Belgian and broader Benelux market. Because if there’s one thing Crete has proven, it’s resilience. And excellent cheese.
The Cretan delegation also included Georgios-Nikolaos Pantazis, Head of the Tourism Department of Rethymno Regional Unit, and Alexandra Glykaki from the Regional Tourism Directorate.
