The Organisation for Rhodian Tourism Promotion (PROTOUR) was founded in 1996 on the initiative of the Rhodes Hoteliers’ Association, the Organization of Local Municipalities and the Chamber of Commerce of the Dodecanese, which represents the productive classes.
It is for Greece an innovating institution that coordinates the activities of the Organization of Rhodian Municipalities and of the productive classes in a common effort for recording, remodeling, improving, promoting and advertising the tourist product of Rhodes.

Administration:

PROTOUR is managed by an Administrative Council of 13 members, composed of 7 representatives of the Rhodian Municipalities and 6 of the productive classes. Chairman is always the Mayor of the Town of Rhodes

The Administrative Council determines the politics of the organisation and approves the action, promotion and advertisement plans, which are worked out by a 7 member Executive Committee (always under the presidency of the Chairman of the Rhodes Hoteliers’ Association), and by representatives of the Rhodian Municipalities and the productive classes members of the Administrative Council. These programs are officially realised by the Rhodes Hoteliers’ Association and are supported by the General Director (Special Councilor).

Resources:

PROTOUR is financed by contributions of the Municipalities of Rhodes Island, the productive classes and the National Tourism Organization (EOT).

Actions:

1. The target of this effort is the enlargement of the tourist product, in order to present Rhodes as a COMPLETE TOURIST DESTINATION.
2. It records and publishes all the characteristics and particularities of each district, as for example sights, ancient, Byzantine or medieval monuments, sightseeing tours, manners and customs, festivals, events, and so on.
3. . It participates in 24 exhibitions as well abroad as in Greece.
4. It creates, prints and distributes all leaflets concerning the promotion of Rhodes.
5. It collaborates with big advertisement companies for the creation of television material and for public relations issues, as it organises various presentations and work shops both in Greece as abroad.
6. . It looks after the recording and promotion of the tourist product through the Internet press.
7. It strengthens and supports the organization of congresses (Rhodes is a member of the European Federation of Congress Cities).
8. PROTOUR coordinates and encourages the cultural, athletic, artistic activities of the Municipalities, that promote the image of Rhodes.
9. It invites and welcomes representatives of the medias and other factors that promote tourism.
10. The Organization of Rhodian Tourism Promotion, which is first of all the tourism representative of Rhodes Island, collaborates perfectly with all ranks of the Administration (Municipalities, Region of Southern Aegean, Greek National Tourism Organization, Ministry of Development) as well in the planning as in the application of special tourist programs which promote this destination abroad and in Greece.

Thanks to the above mentioned but also thanks to all activities realised until today, the PROTOUR Organization has won a great value not only in our place but it has also become a prototype for most tourist regions of our country. And the Organization for Rhodian Tourism Promotion should definitely be considered as the first collaboration between municipalities.