The Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens is very pleased to invite you to our second regional online meet-up on the theme:
“Good practices and challenges of tourism in historic urban centres”,
12 June 2026 at 15:00-17:00 CEST (16:00-18.00 Greece time)
The meeting is organised within the framework of the series of regional online meet-ups on overtourism coordinated by the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens, which operates in the frame of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub.
This second meet-up will focus on the challenges and good practices related to tourism management in historic urban centers, with particular emphasis on overtourism, tourism-driven urban transformation, cultural heritage protection, and residents’ quality of life.
The outcomes of this series of meetings will contribute to the development of policy recommendations and research activities of the Hub.
Programme -Structure (2 hours)
Moderator: Miltiadis Lazoglou, Dr. Urban and Regional Planner, Coordinator, ELLET
Welcome & Introduction (3’)
- Lydia Carras, President of Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET)
- Eleni Maistrou, President, Architectural Heritage Council ELLET
- Vagelis Marinakis, President, Council for Climate Crisis & Energy / President of Develop Athens S.A
Theme 1: Historic Urban Centers: Communities, Heritage and Social Transformations (10 minutes per speaker)
- Maria Bousdeki, Architect Engineer, PhD Candidate, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
“Tourist Gentrification and Social Transformations in the City” - George Zafeiriou, Architect, President of the Plaka Residents Committee, ELLET
“Tourism and Overtourism in Plaka”
- Nikos Triantos, Dipl. Electrical Engineer, M.Eng.
“Overtourism and Carrying Capacity on the Island of Corfu”
Theme 2: Managing Tourism Pressure: European Experiences and Good Practices, (10 minutes per speaker)
- Álvaro Gómez-Ferrer Bayo, Honorary President of the European Council of Town Planners, Honorary Member of ICOMOS-CIVVIH International Scientific Committee of Historic Towns
” Tourism as a tool for the development of historic centers- The case study of Valencia”
- Ana Hrnić, Head of the Department for Tourism and Sport, City of Dubrovnik
“Managing the Flow: Dubrovnik’s Sustainable Tourism Model”
- Bàrbara Montaner Vega, Head of Marketing, Communication and Visitor Experience Park Güell
“Park Güell Management Model”
- Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director and Co-founder European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)
“Making historic urban centres accessible for tourists of all ages and abilities”
Discussion & Q&A (15–20 minutes)
An open discussion will follow, offering the opportunity for audience engagement and exchange of perspectives.
Conclusions & Key Messages
Closing remarks and key conclusions will be presented by the moderator, Miltiadis Lazoglou
You can find the registration form here
We would be delighted to have you with us.