World Trails Conference 2022 to be hosted in Skiathos, Greece from 26–30 September

• When: September 26-30, 2022
• Where: Skiathos, a lush Greek island in the Aegean Sea
• Who: Co-hosted by the Municipality of Skiathos and World Trails Network
• What: The world’s leadings trails organizations, experts, professionals, and enthusiasts convene in support of each other and to shape the future of trails
• How: Register and learn more at worldtrailsconference.org

Skiathos, Greece – The Municipality of Skiathos and the World Trails Network (WTN), have agreed to jointly organize the 8th World Trails Conference to take place in Greece from 5-8 October 2022. The event includes an extended programme of trail journeys and workshops running from 26 September to 10 October 2022. This agreement was reached by the Mayor of Skaithos Mr Tzoumas, the Ministry of Tourism in Greece and World Trails Conference Organizing Committee.

“Skiathos and Greece is excited and honoured to host the 2022 conference,” said Thodoris Tzoumas, Skiathos mayor.  “Today’s announcement reinforces Skiathos’ investment in protecting and enhancing its trail offerings to the global traveller. We are building strong ties with the World Trails Network and this conference will bring the expertise and knowledge of the world’s great trails to Greece to share, learn and exchange ideas,” he concluded.   

The World Trails Conference is the world’s largest international gathering of trail professionals and enthusiasts. It brings together leaders from government agencies, non-profit organizations, civil society, business and academia to collaborate, share, celebrate and define best practice strategies for one the world’s significant tourism, lifestyle and outdoor sectors.

“We are thrilled to announce the  8th World Trails Conference is a hybrid event with its in-person gathering taking place on  Skiathos,” said World Trails Network Chair, Galeo Saintz. “Skiathos, like many destinations around the world, has found renewed value in their trails during the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, Skiathos worked with Paths of Greece, a World Trails Network member, to update waymarking, trail infrastructure and to create the first accessible trail path for wheelchair access in Greece. Improvements such as these are at the heart of what it means for communities to care for their trails and ensure that trails will persist to benefit future generations.” 

Skiathos features a 100-km network of old trails that connect today’s visitors to the many sight-seeing highlights of the island. They weave through rich pine and cypress forests and can take walkers to old monasteries, a medieval castle, or picturesque beaches. The world has much to learn from the continued investment by Skiathos into the accessibility, safety, preservation, and quality of their trails. 

“The vital role that trails play within our communities world-wide has become crystal clear,” continued Saintz. “The coronavirus lockdowns highlighted how trails give people access to nature, for both emotional, physical and mental health. Our conference programme aims to focus on taking trails into the future and consolidating the important role they play in adventure tourism, mobility, rural economies, sport and outdoor recreation, and on why we need trails and why trails need us. With the conference taking place on an island, the opening sessions will focus on trails and islands, and so we eagerly expect to welcome attendees from famous island trail destinations such as Jeju Island, Iceland, Reunion, the Caribbean, Majorca, Madeira, Taiwan, and Corsica amongst others.”

“We look forward to a highly stimulating and relevant conference programme, part of which will include launching the inaugural issue of the World Trails Report – a multi-authored snapshot of how trails intersect and benefit society across many levels,” says Galeo Saintz, “but, I am most excited about the World Trails Film Festival which will close proceedings in celebratory style on the evening of September 29, 2022 before embarking on its world tour – is there a better place to watch inspiring films about trails than in an amphitheater on an island in Greece? Join us.”

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Note to Editor: About World Trails Conference

The World Trails Conference has previously been held in Korea, Japan, and Spain, with attendees to date from over 60 different countries. The 2012 conference resulted in the establishment of the World Trails Network. Today, the World Trails Network is an internationally representative body for all trail types with members spread across the world, it is a non-profit association based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it includes regional hubs in Asia, the Mediterranean and the Americas. Leading members include the Appalachian Trail, The Camino de Santiago, the Jeju Olle trail, and Great Himalayan Trails, to name only a few. 

CONTACT:

Municipality of Skiathos: pressoffice@n-skiathos.gr www.skiathos.gr    Instagram: @skiathos.experience  Facebook: Skiathos Experience

World Trails Network:  info@worldtrailsnetwork.org worldtrailsnetwork.org Instagram: @worldtrailsnetwork  Twitter: @worldtrailsnet

Photos/Media for Use Press KIt 

World Trails Conference worldtrailsconference.org

Trails Film – World Trails Film Festival trails.film