FedHATTA is supporting the Municipality of Mytilene’s efforts to promote Lesvos as a destination for school and educational tourism. The Federation lent its auspices to the conference “Lesvos as a Learning Destination.”

The event was held in Athens, with teachers and school principals from the Attica region taking part.

The initiative aims to encourage school visits and promote Lesvos’s potential as a destination for experiential learning, while also expanding tourism activity beyond the peak season.

The conference presented themed itineraries and proposals for educational visits to the island, tailored to schools’ interests and curricula.

Lesvos offers a wide range of educational experiences. The Petrified Forest, the Natural History Museum, and the wetlands of the Gulf of Kalloni and the Gulf of Gera provide opportunities for environmental and geological education. Archaeological sites, museums, churches, monasteries and traditional settlements showcase the island’s historical, religious and cultural heritage.

Suggested visits also include the University of the Aegean, traditional crafts workshops and production facilities. Students can learn first-hand about activities such as pottery, woodcarving, olive growing, cheesemaking and ouzo production.

According to the Municipality of Mytilene, school groups already visit Lesvos, mainly in spring and autumn. To make it easier to plan visits, the Municipality intends to develop digital tools bringing together information about available themes and itineraries. It is also considering holding similar presentations in other parts of the country.

The conference was held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization, the North Aegean Region, the Federation of Lesvian Associations of Attica and FedHATTA, with support from the Municipality of Athens, OPANDA and the Lesvos Association of Travel Agents.

FedHATTA President Lysandros Tsilidis said: “It is a given that we will support any destination that takes a creative approach to developing its tourism – and especially when it comes to schools, for which the island’s historical and religious tourism offering can enhance a school trip with educational opportunities.”