Crete opens a new tourism chapter for its visitors, inviting them to experience the magical world of olive tourism. Through the Leader program, the Association of Olive-Growing Municipalities of Crete (SEDIK) creates thematic “olive routes”, that combine the authenticity of the place with the power of nature, the charm of tradition, and the unique Cretan gastronomy. A journey that connects the past with the present through the sacred olive tree and the gold of the Cretan land, olive oil.
These routes pass through centuries-old olive trees, traditional olive mills, monumental olive trees, and visitable oil mills, where the visitor can learn about the history of Cretan olive oil, taste excellent quality product,s and experience the magic of their production.
The historic Olive Tree of Vouves, a natural monument of world value, holds a special place, as well as 30 other landmarks that have already been recorded – and many more that are about to be included in the network of routes. At the same time, digital mapping of the routes is being planned so that they are easily accessible to an international audience through the Region of Crete.
Olive tourism, as emphasized by the general director of SEDIK, Nikos Michelakis, is an emerging form of alternative tourism, which is developing dynamically in countries such as Spain and Italy. Crete, with its rich olive-growing past, unique landscapes, and authentic experiences, has all the comparative advantages to become a pioneer in this sector as well. In Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lasithi, there are already olive museums and restored traditional olive mills, which function as living monuments of culture. Olive tourism routes open new horizons in the promotion of the hinterland, offering solutions to the overconcentration of tourism in coastal areas.
The ultimate goal of SEDIK is to increase the number of visitable olive mills on the island and turn them into poles of attraction for travelers seeking substance, authenticity, and experiential experiences. To make this a reality, it is necessary for the olive mills to be equipped with appropriate reception areas, as well as to train staff who will be able to offer quality tours and information.
Olive tourism in Crete is not just a new form of tourism. It is a journey into the soul of Crete, through the paths of olive trees and hospitality, which is slowly being embraced by the island’s hotels. Moreover, there are many large hotels on the northern front that have informational material from SEDIK and at the same time, conduct visits to olive mills in the island’s hinterland.
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