Western Macedonia University professor Yiannis Bartzis, director of the Environmental Technology laboratory of the university's Mechanical
Engineering Department, told ANA-MPA that the project, "Development of Alternative Forms of Tourism through the creation of Footpaths in Kozani Prefecture", which focuses on the Voios area, recently completed the second of the three years of its materialisation with results that have surpassed all expectations.
The completion of the relevant studies and construction of the first three footpath routes have been completed well ahead of the target date, while studies were currently underway for the next three of a total of 10 routes traversing Mt. Voios and Mt. Askios in Kozani.
The relevant permission is currently pending from the Agriculture Ministry and the Forestry Service for the final six footpaths.
Further, the project's research group has already completed improvement of and placement of signs on existing footpaths, which are now open for visitors.
A network covering a total of 120 kilometers in Western Voios (Tsotyli-Pentalofos region) will result following the construction of the new routes/footpaths, according to Bartzis, who underlined that the new paths will take visitors to spots of exquisite natural beauty and rare cultural monuments that have been unknown to the wider public to now.
Another network covering 65 kilometers is planned in the Eastern Voios area (Siatista-Askios-Vlastis region), as well as the construction of a Geo-Park/Eco-Park in Skalohori.
A relevant website (www.monopatia-pindos.gr), that has been developed, in three languages (Greek, English, French), providing information on where visitors can stay, dining, maps, photographs, informational texts and useful links, as well as various related documentaries, has already logged more than 65,000 'visitors' in just a year and a half, although the site is still in the construction stage and being constantly improved.
Photo: ANA-MPA/Western Macedonia University
ANA-MPA
