REVITALIZING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF TOURISM DESTINATIONS

THROUGH INNOVATIVE MEGA ATTRACTIONS

The Revival of the Ancient Wonder

of Colossos of Rod0s

George A. Barboutis MSc, MBA, DESS (CORNELL-ESSEC)Project Manager of the Municipality of Rodos

Member of Tourism Research Body of the Chamber of Dodecanese

Founding Member of SITE Greek Chapter

Director of Marketing of RODOS PALACE HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTRE

THE TOURISM OF THE FUTUREMoving from Products and Services to Experiences

“Destinations will need to reinvent themselves in order to be competitive

and grow their industry in the future. Destinations need to move beyond

offering products and services (hotels and attractions) to inventing,

orchestrating and delivering exceptional experiences to their clients that

exceed their expectations”.

Dr. Auliana Poon

MD of Tourism Intelligence International

THE FUTURE OF GREECE AS A TOURISM DESTINATION

How Greece as a tourism

destination can reinvent

itself in order to become

competitive in the future?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

What MEGA-ACTIONS and MEGA-EVENTS would lead

Rodos to enter successfully the tourism of the future?

THE CASE OF RODOS

The Revival of Myths

THE REVIVAL OF THE ANCIENT WONDER OF

COLOSSUS TO A CURRENT WONDER OF

THE 21st CENTURY

• One of the seven wonders of the

ancient world

• Built as a tribute to the Sun God Helios,

protector of the city of Rodos to celebrate

freedom, unity and peace. (292 B.C.)

• Following the failure of siege of Demetrius

Poliorkitis to the island

• Designed by the sculptor Chares of

Lindos (70 feet tall)

(Mastrapas 1993)

“To you, O Sun, the people of Dorian Rodos set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils taken from the enemy. Not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely torch of freedom.”

Dedicatory inscription of the Colossos

History of Colossos

Historical Evidence of Colossos

Scientific evidence is lacking on where he stood and how exactly he looked.

It’s a mystery…

Stirred the fantasy of historians to praise the legendary statue

Numerous artists provided drawings according to their imagination

(Mastrapas 1993)

WHERE DID HE ACTUALLY STAND AND WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

FIELD OF IDEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

LANDMARK

ANCIENT WONDER

TRIBUTE TO THE SUN GOD OF HELIOS, FREEDOM &

PEACE

IN THE PAST

WORLD LANDMARK

WONDER OF THE 21st

CENTURY

ECUMENICAL SYMBOL OF PEACE, HOPE & OPTIMISM

IN THE FUTURE HAS TO BE

FORThe creative revival of the wonder in a modern,

contemporary work-of-art that will transform the

invaluable intangible characteristics and convey

the symbolic values of the legendary monument

AGAINSTThe recreation of a sterile imitation (replica) of

the ancient wonder referring to anachronistic

and archaeological implications

The Concept

To create a contemporary (21st century) wonder

inspired by the Colossos the ancient wonder. It

should be an evolutionary and a modern

successor, borrowing the unique attributes, the

symbolic characteristics and the artistic values of

Colossos, attempting to become a feat of our

century.

It should become a symbol of the Greek civilisation

and should be enriched with a current, diachronic

idealistic content.

The Vision

“Just like the Colossos was built as a tribute to

the Sun God of Helios to celebrate freedom and

peace, its successor, standing at the crossroads

of three continents should become Rodos’ and

Greece’s contribution to the world. Emitting

eternal light and symbolising ecumenical world

peace, sending messages of hope and optimism

for the future generations to come”

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Artistic Expression / Technical Construction

Artistic Excellence of Global Recognition and Worldwide Acceptance

Innovative Technological Achievement

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL

& DESIGN COMPETITION

or

COMMISSION TO A FAMOUS

ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF

WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Location

Visibility suitable to a grand scale landmark

Highly visible from air and sea emitting its eternal light

to the four points of the horizon

Ease of access to visitors without major problems in

transportation

Avoid accessibility obstacles to the harbour or the

airport of Rodos

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Fund Raising Campaign

Foundations

Donations

Subsidies

Supports

Collections

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Communication Strategy

Creation of an international media campaign to raise awareness and interest of the project worldwide

Mobilisation of Greek and international celebrities (politicians, artists, intellectuals, actors etc.) to promote the idea

Planning and creation of PR events at various stages of the implementation of the project

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Honorary Selection Committee

• Worldwide Recognition

• Transparency of Procedures

• Global Acceptance

Distinguished Personalities

under the aegis of the President of the Hellenic Republic

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Future Revenues -Avoidance of Commercialisation

Future Revenues should be offered to the constant maintenance and expansion of the project with

Actions concerning the dissemination of Greek History and Hellenic Cultural Heritage

Creation of a theme Museum of Colossos employing interactive technologies to enhance guests experience

SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION

Future Revenues -Avoidance of Commercialisation

Future Revenues should be also offered to

Actions concerning the constant dissemination of the idea of

World Peace

Establishment of a Cultural Peace Venue (EIΡΗΝΗ) that would

include Amphitheater, Conference Center for organising

Conferences, Gala Dinners and other similar Peace Events

CASE STUDIES OF SIMILAR PROJECTS ABROAD

The Recreation of the ancient Library of AlexandriaIn the past: Accumulated the worldwide knowledge of the ancient times

The New Library of Alexandria

• A center of excellence in

the production and

dissemination of current

knowledge and a place of

dialogue, learning and

understanding between

cultures and people,

aspiring also to be

the world’s window on

Egypt and Egypt’s

window on the world, in

the new digital age.

Created with the mission to recapture the spirit of the original with the aim to be:

The New Library of Alexandria

Cooperation of the

Egyptian Government

with UNESCO

Invitation of a Global

Architectural

Competition

Cost 220.000.000 U.S.

Dollars in year 2002

Funds were raised

from contributions of

27 countries

The New Library of Alexandria today possesses:

6 Specialised libraries

4 Museums

1 Planetarium

1 Culturama

8 Academic research centers

15 Permanent exhibitions

4 Art galleries

The New Library of Alexandria today possesses:

International Conference Center

Host of numerous institutions and

Venue of dozens of conferences, meetings, exhibitions and events

Receiving annually

1.500.000 visitorsfrom all over the world!

FUTURE PROJECTS

Rio 2016 Solar City Tower

Rio 2016 SOLAR CITY TOWER

Rio 2016 SOLAR CITY TOWER

Rio 2016 SOLAR CITY TOWER

Rio 2016 SOLAR CITY TOWER

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROJECT

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROJECT

CULTURAL & TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT

Communication Level Secures enormous and invaluable publicity for Rodos Island and Greece that cannot be assessed in monetary terms.

Repositions in the most dynamic way Rodos and Greece in the world tourism map.

Creates increasingly high demand for the destination, opens new horizons and paves the way for new tourism evolutions.

Artistic Creation Level

Its colossal historical nature, challenges the most distinguished artists around the world to participate, securing the prestige that such a landmark deserves.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROJECT

CULTURAL & TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT

Technological Level

Promotes innovation, superseding the conventional methods of

construction.

Foreign Affairs & External Relations

The implementation of a Global Venue of Peace creates large

pacific opportunities in the wider Mediterranean region.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROJECT

CULTURAL & TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT

It can become a pioneering project providing initiative to

start similar creative & innovative cultural and tourism

projects, in all regions of Greece, with its invaluable

historical and mythological wealth.

NATIONAL PROFITS

Contributes significantly to the higher

recognition of our national treasures and

appreciation of our cultural heritage,

converting our introverted mentality to

cultural extroversion.

Strengthens the feeling of national pride

and makes us equal successors of our

gracious history and our ancient

predecessors.

EPILOGUE

It represents a moral duty to historical

Rodos, an ethical debt to mythical

Greece and an honorary obligation to

humanity to offer a memorable

achievement of international scale.

Much like the Olympic Games, it is

something so Hellenic that the whole

country has to benefit and at the same

time so ecumenical that the whole

world has to gain!

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL