The Municipality of Rhodes (DMMO Rhodes) is moving forward with the establishment of a Destination Management and Marketing Organization, adopting a modern and holistic model for the management of its tourist destination.
This decision is a strategic policy choice by the Mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, who, since the beginning of his term, has highlighted the need for a new institutional mechanism to coordinate the local stakeholders, manage the destination based on documented data, and ensure sustainable development with social participation.
The establishment of the DMMO Rhodes is being implemented as part of the national project “SUB1 – Destination Management” of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, based on a Memorandum of Cooperation.
The organization is being created with the aim of becoming the basic tool for the unified strategic development, management, promotion, and evaluation of the island’s tourism product.
This initiative is part of a broader plan that seeks to shift the focus from one-dimensional promotion to the systematic and professional management of all the components that make up the visitor experience and the daily life of the local community.
The aim is to formulate policies that enhance the authenticity of the destination, ensure environmental and social balance, and create stable conditions for the development of the island’s tourism ecosystem.
The Deputy Mayor for Tourism played a key role in the development and preparation of the project, taking charge of technical and political coordination at all stages of the process. The Deputy Mayor for Tourism, Mr. George Toppos, worked systematically to include the Municipality in the project, activate cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, and link the DMMO with the strategic directions of the Municipality of Rhodes.
The Deputy Mayor for Tourism will have a supervisory role in the operation of the new organization, ensuring consistency with the municipal authority’s policy choices and the participation of the local community.
At the same time, the Municipality’s Development Organization “Kolossos 2047” is a key pillar supporting the operation of the DMMO. It provides administrative and technical support to the organization, ensuring institutional continuity, professional management, and adaptation to the requirements of the national framework.
Cooperation between the DMMO and the Development Agency is a key choice for ensuring operational readiness and cooperation between municipal bodies.
The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Municipality of Rhodes and the Ministry of Tourism provides for:
– The development of a Local Integrated Destination Management Plan with clear strategic objectives, measurable indicators, and an action plan with specific interventions.
– The operation of a Local Tourism Development Observatory, which will collect, analyze, and monitor developments in the tourism sector, taking into account economic, social, and environmental criteria.
– Strengthening the island’s tourist identity through strategic branding, innovation, and upgrading the overall visitor experience.
– The participation of the DMMO of Rhodes in the National Observatory for Sustainable Tourism Development, in order to link the local strategy with international standards and indicators.
– The establishment of a Local Tourism Council, with the participation of all stakeholders and the local community, so that tourism policy is shaped through consultation, consensus, and joint planning.
With the operation of the DMMO, the Municipality of Rhodes acquires a new, modern tool with an emphasis on cooperation, better coordination, and proper management of its tourism product.
