Ioannina: New roads, new airport, unique destination
Source: Tornos News
- By Stathis Sioutis, former president and current member of the Board of Directors of the Ioannina Prefecture Hoteliers Association
The Prefecture of Ioannina is one of the most popular domestic tourism destinations and not by chance because it is easily accessible via the modern road network and the airport while offering a multitude of options for its visitors.
The road network connecting Ioannina with the rest of mainland Greece has been expanded in recent years, significantly reducing distances and making travel easier, faster and safer than ever. The section from Kalambaka to Lamia on the E65 motorway has been delivered and we expect its northern section to be delivered in the 2nd quarter of 2026, connecting central Greece with the Egnatia motorway. The Amvrakia Motorway was recently completed, facilitating the connection with Aitoloakarnania, Lefkada, Preveza and the port of Igoumenitsa. At the same time, the trans-European road axis “Ioannina-Kakavia” is expected to start by the end of the year, with which the Ionian Highway will essentially be completed and will form part of the European Road “Blue Corridor” that will connect our country with central and northern Europe. All of the above highways have contributed significantly to the increase in traffic in our region and are expected to do so even more in the future.
On the other hand, the International Airport of Ioannina has been housed in new and modern facilities for a few years and is not inferior in anything to other regional airports with increased mobility. It serves daily regular flights to and from Athens and during the summer months charter flights from Scandinavian countries. A constant demand of a large part of the local community – for the promotion of which the Ioannina Prefecture Hoteliers’ Association has mobilized many times – is to finally achieve the interconnection with Crete, Cyprus, Israel and Germany. Once we manage to connect with more destinations and the flights of the amphibious seaplanes that will operate the Ioannina-Corfu-Paxos routes begin, we will have won a big bet on the competitiveness of both the airport and our tourist product.
Of course, the uniqueness of the destination contributes primarily to the continuous increase in the recognition of the region. The city of Ioannina stands out for its cosmopolitan character and the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains that surround it. It has recognized monuments and museums, numerous restaurants, intense nightlife, an organized market and hotels for every taste and budget. At the same time, in close proximity are the famous mountain villages of the Prefecture of Ioannina, distinguished for their unaltered traditional character, breathtaking landscapes, unique gastronomy and the opportunities they offer either for spiritual peace or for intense sports.
Without a doubt, the city and the Prefecture of Ioannina offer a high-value tourist product, which, however, has not yet been fully exploited. Easy accessibility contributes to the increase in tourist traffic, but there are many additional actions that can be taken in this direction. I am optimistic that by drawing a common line between tourism professionals and local government bodies, we can breathe new life into the development of the local economy with benefit for our society.
The original article: belongs to Tornos News .
