Second session - 11:45 – 12:45
The impact of tourism on the environment
and how to manage it properly - Case studies
Thodoris Tzoumas
Mayor of Skiathos
Mayor of Skiathos Island in Greece since 2019. Born in Skiathos in 1979, he studied agriculture and chemistry at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.
He has been volunteering involved since 2009 in local associations of Skiathos, for the protection of the cultural heritage and the protection of the environment, in cooperation with European and Greek organizations.
Stamatis Perissis
Mayor of Skopelos
He was born in 1955 in Skopelos, where he grew up until his high school studies, which he completed in the 2nd Boys Senior High School of Athens.
He is a graduate of the physics department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and for many years he worked in secondary education as a physics teacher, and has been a principal at the Vocational High School of Skopelos.
In 1990, at the age of 35, he got elected as Mayor of Skopelos for the first time, and has been reelected four (4) more times, (1994-1998, 1998-2002, 2019-2023 και 2024-2028)
He has participated and actively participates in conferences, local-government bodies (KEDE, PED, etc) and decision-making centers which have achieved a significant life quality improvement of the inhabitants of small island municipalities.
He is married to Aikaterini Lygerou-Perissi and has two daughters and two grandchildren.
Giorgos Sisamakis
Deputy Mayor of Development Planning of Heraklion
George Sisamakis, Deputy Mayor of Development Programming, Digital Transformation, and Integrated Rural Development & Tourism of the Municipality of Heraklion, was born in Heraklion, Crete, in 1983. He studied at the Department of Economic Sciences at the University of Crete and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Salford in Manchester in Supply Chain Management and Logistics.
Since 2007, he has been professionally active as an economic advisor and development researcher. In 2017, he served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce (Eastern Crete department) and was a member of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
Michalis Geranis
President of the Regional Solid Waste Management Agencies for Central Macedonia
Born in 1965 and raised in Asvestochori, Thessaloniki, where he lives. He is married to Theodora Gerani-Giakoumi and they have 3 children Zoe, Anastasis and Eleni. He is a freelancer engaged in the cultivation of lavender as well as “Constantis”, from Karavakia, a breathing project that connects Thessaloniki with the nearby beaches. While in recent years it has been dealing with the distribution and supply of electricity from renewable sources. Michalis Geranis was the last Mayor of Hortiatis with a term of office from 2003 to 2010. 1998 first Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Hortiatis, then President of the Municipal Council.
In 2002 he was elected Mayor of the Municipality of Hortiatis
2006 re-elected Mayor of Hortiatis Municipality
2009 Elected Chairman of the Board of the Martyrdom Cities and Villages Network of Greece
2010 he is elected first in votes as Municipal Councilor of the now unified Municipality of Pylaia – Hortiatis after Kallikratis and is elected to the position of President of the Municipal Council.
In 2013 he was elected President of the Association of Municipalities of Thessaloniki
2013 April elected first President of the New Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Agencies of Central Macedonia (FODSA) until today.
2014 re-elected Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Pylaia Hortiatis first in crosses
2015 assumes the position of President of the Board of the Municipality of Pylaia Hortiatis
2019 He is re-elected as the first Municipal Councilor in the Municipality of Pylaia Hortiatis and continues to this day as President of the Board of the Municipality of Pylaia Hortiatis
2022 elected Vice President of the Hellenic Solid Waste Management Association (EEDSA)
As part of his tenure in the local government, he was an elected member of: of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece K.ED.E. and member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Self-Government (E.E.T.A.A.)
Sotiris Christoforou
Nicosia Tourism Board
Sotiris Christoforou is the Secretary of the Board of Directors and Manager of the Nicosia Tourism Board since 2019. He oversees the general management of the organization and the implementation of the regional tourism development strategy of Nicosia. He participates in public consultations and technical committees on issues that have a direct impact on the sustainable tourism development, especially of the historical centers with an emphasis on the cultural and creative industries towards the development of a sustainable cultural creative tourism. Mr. Christoforou holds a master’s degree in Cultural Events Management from De Montfort University in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus European Office.
