Report on Best Practice in the Region of Crete CRETAN QUALITY AGREEMENT

Transcription

1 Report on Best Practice in the Region of Crete CRETAN QUALITY AGREEMENT Component 3.4 by 1

2 Topic of the Best Practice (s) The Cretan Quality Agreement is a non-for-profit organisation of the Region of Crete in Greece. The company s aims are to promote the Cretan Diet and local products of the island of Crete. The Region of Crete introduces 2 news Regional Labels of Quality. The label of Quality of Cretan Cuisine that certify local restaurants and the Label of Open Wineries that certify the Cretan wineries. Location of the Best Practice The Cretan Quality Agreement covers the whole region/island of Crete. Start Date and (if applicable) End Date The Cretan Quality Agreement started in August 2008 and is an on-going activity. Detailed Description Information on the nature of the Best Practice Cretan products and Cretan Gastronomy claim an important place in international gastronomy. The Cretan Cuisine is very tasty besides being healthy. It is simple and based on few but high quality ingredients witch are mixed with imagination. Region of Crete and the Cretan Quality Agreement has created the Quality Label of Cretan Cuisine which aims at the participation of restaurants around Crete, in order to create a relation of trust with the consumers and promotes the destination not only as a tourist destination but as well as a gastronomy destination. Objectives of the Best Practice The objectives of the Cretan Quality Agreement are: 1. The featuring and presentation of the Cretan Diet as a means of healthy nutrition and wellness. 2

3 2. The promotion and reassurance of the consumption of Cretan products, as products of a higher alimentary value. 3. The creation of conditions which are suitable for the provision of food and tourist services, in Crete as well as other places, and aim in the achievement of a high quality of products and services offered (regarding the products of Crete). 4. The guarding of traditional alimentary models in Crete. 5. The organization of the suitable infrastructures in the region of Crete for the accomplishment of the company s objects. 6. Any other action relevant to the above mentioned which aims in the promotion of the consumption of Cretan products. For the accomplishment of its objects, the company: Will organize conferences of various forms, product exhibitions and educational activities and events in order to improve the knowledge of the enterprises and their personnel, regarding the Cretan products and their promotion by enterprises that are certified for their suitability. Will submit proposals or participate in activities which will be materialized by various agencies, national or of the community, in the Community support framework as well as by any other co-financed operations. Will affect market research, as well as other types of research which shall contribute to the accomplishment of the company s goals. Will provide any type of educational, advisory and informative services to the entrepreneurs for the promotion of the Cretan products and the improvement of their efforts. Will participate in other companies or firms of any type, with similar goals, following a related decision of the General Meeting of the company. The main stakeholders involved (including the beneficiaries) The organization being the Cluster of the Cretan Diet, aims to be the umbrella where all the local initiatives could work together as synergies with the 3

4 same orientation. Planning a unique policy, the Region of Crete, is collaborating with all local stakeholders, entrepreneurs, producers, experts, universities and citizens in order to increase the demand and offer of the local products as well as high quality services. In order to achieve this target, the Cretan Quality Agreement and the Region of Crete focus on national and international synergies of best practices and new know how, based on the main local strategy and policy and create a strong brand name of Crete aboard. The financial resources required for its implementation Local, Regional and Europeans funds Internal capital Funds form local organization and entrepreneurs The Key Success Factors and conditions for potential transfer The contribution of the local government and the local stakeholders from the tourist sector as well as from the agricultural production is the key of the success. The local products of high quality have to be produced and be consumed as in cuisine de terroir. The tourism and the primary sector have to work together and adapt a unique strategic plan that is the increase of offer and demand of local products of high quality and services. The local products could be a tourist product under some specific conditions and control. Evidence of Success of the Best Practice The new tool of the Region of Crete is based on the conviction that Crete could be a high quality destination where we can consume high quality products and services. Those tools could work better under the control of the regional quality labels (on the Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries, Products) The function of those labels is innovative as all the labels that used to exist on 4

5 the island decided, after consultation, to work together and to create a unique label under the umbrella of the Region of Crete. The Region of Crete announced a wide strategic plan (court term and long term objectives) in order to create a strong brand name of Crete including all products and services. The culinary portfolio οf Crete is different from any other region in Greece. The Internationalization of the concept Crete exists aboard. The Region of Crete create the local basket and local grocery at new markets in Europe and around the world. This could be the educational tool for our clients in order to be familiar to our internal market as they arrive in our island. The high quality products as the organic extra virgin olive oil, the local dairy products, the Cretan wine, honey, herbs and aromatic plants, are our ambassadors. This initiative is based on networking and collaboration. The Cretan Quality Agreement is the administrative actor who supports the winemakers Network of Crete, the roads of wine, the roads of Cretan flavours and other networks that are in progress. Our aim is to create strong scale economies and support our local economy not only through the 3s model of tourism. The benefits of this vision has to be dedicated to the local communities and to be reinvestment. Conclusions General Comments The island of Crete is the only island in Europe where you can see snow and banana cultivation in the same visit. This is an example that shows the width of development possibilities. Crete due to its geographical position, its climate conditions and its geological history, is regarded as a botanical paradise at the same time as a tourist destination. The output of the objectives of the Cretan Quality Agreement and the Region of Crete is the differentiation, the business development and the competitiveness in local level through the synergies between agriculture and tourism. 5

6 Contact Details for further information Name: Aspassia Stavroulaki Organization: Function: Region of Crete Responsible of Marketing Tel , Fax: Website: 6