The Kythera is the first part of the Europe which acquires the Green Flag Award. The Green Flag is a certification for trails created by the World Network of Trails. In the framework of the network's actions, in October 2019 trail professionals from 13 countries gathered in Kythera to attend the training of inspectors for the Green Flag Trails certification. During the seven-day seminar, selected trails of Kythera were inspected and two of them were awarded with the Green Flag Trails badge. They are the first in Europe to receive this signal!
See the documentary and find out about the paths of Kythera and the new perspectives that are opening up for the island.
In the video settings you will find the Greek subtitles.
The Green Flag
The Green Flag Trails (Green Flag Trails) is a certification that recognises pathways to data accuracy, environmental responsibility and sustainable management. It focuses on sustainability and responsibility towards hiking and walking tourists and aims to stimulate adventure tourism. The Green Flag Trails is a scientific trail management system that has been implemented and tested in 6 countries such as Nepal, Peru and South Africa.
Green Flag Trails certification helps improve services to the public and ensures timely and appropriate maintenance of trail infrastructure. With built-in information accuracy checks, the system helps hikers and trail users understand which trails best suit their abilities and preferences. Thus, the global trail industry will gain increased credibility by implementing systems that improve environmental responsibility, marketing and trail data that is verified as accurate and reliable.
This was the first step of the Green Flag Trails certification in Europe. The next one is to meet the demand for certification in other European countries that participated in the training such as Portugal, Spain, Italy and Hungary. In addition, countries such as Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Jordan and Kenya are hoping to implement the system themselves which will help them improve the sustainability of their trails. Participants in the training in Kythera were certified as Green Flag Trails inspectors.
The team of experts that met in Kythera to participate in the Green Flag Trails Inspector Training, hosted by the World Trails Network, in collaboration with Joint Committee. Paths of Greece and with the support of Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development. The training took place in the certified Hikers Friendly accommodation “Porto Delfino”.
