• Barthle sees the project as a contribution to the know-how transfer and to the creation of sustainable structures 

Norbert Barthle, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Chancellor’s Representative for the German-Greek Assembly, together with a delegation of municipal politicians from Germany and Greece, visited the TUI Care Foundation project in the Greek island of Crete earlier this month. On a tour through the Winery Michalakis Estate and the Monastery of St. George Epanosifis, the group of representatives had the opportunity to see the making and the processing of sustainable agricultural food products. As the Representative for the German-Greek Assembly, Norbert Barthle commended the networking of the local agriculture and tourism sectors in order to promote sustainability in Crete. “With this project, the TUI Care Foundation is setting new standards. It is a win-win for all participants. The know-how transfer is particularly important. Through such projects new sustainable structures can be developed”, said Mr. Barthle.

The project, run by TUI Care Foundation aims to more effectively network the local agriculture and tourism sectors. It supports the sustainable cultivation of wine and olive oil products by olive famers and wine producers. The pilot project started in March 2017 and has a length of three years. Overall, TUI Care Foundation supports around 200 local farmers, companies and hotels in Crete in the framework of the project. The goal is to use the growing tourism sector in Greece as a tool to promote sustainability in local agriculture. Crete’s high-quality products for holidaymakers and hotels will contribute to developing the island into a showcase for sustainable food on holiday and help network the tourism and agriculture sectors to benefit both sectors in the island.