We’re spearheading an inclusive tourism strategy for Syros, one of the most diverse islands in the Cyclades

The stunning island of Syros is the administrative capital and the main hub of the Cyclades group of islands. Keen to capitalise on its many attractions, while ensuring that tourism is developed responsibly, the  Municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis has commissioned us to produce a holistic strategy to shape tourism development, management and marketing on the island.

Syros stands out among neighbouring islands because it offers a particularly  intriguing mix of Venetian and neoclassical architecture, along with a diverse range of well-preserved monuments, themed museums and contemporary events thanks to a strong local tradition of culture and the arts. It's also considered to be more affordable than tourism hotspots such as Mykonos and Santorini, while being well connected by ferry both with Piraeus, the main port of Athens, and several other islands in the Aegean Sea. 

For local stakeholders, the top priority in the years to come is to promote a sustainable approach to tourism development, nurture a diverse range of experiences, and adopt best practices to drive economic regeneration through tourism and by attracting those target groups that will offer greatest value and contribute most in terms of the island’s sustainability goals.

What are we doing?

• Deliver a comprehensive situation analysis including a review of international trends, Syros’ competitive position within the Cyclades and benchmarking of global best practices
• Conduct a survey of potential visitors from the domestic market to provide valuable insights for the brand image of Syros and its future travel outlook
• Carry out extensive consultation activities including 25+ interviews with key stakeholders, stakeholder workshops, community forums and a dedicated survey of local residents and businesses
• Set out a visitor economy and place branding strategy along with the island’s creative brand identity and manual
• Provide practical recommendations for the Municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis and key partners on how to enable sound destination governance, and establish viable mechanisms for shared decision making and finance. 
• Deliver training workshops to facilitate the first steps of the island’s new approach to destination management