Giortes Rokkas: how a small village opened its doors to the world

Like many small villages in Greece, Rokka faced a problem where its young people had moved away to study or find work. To encourage them to come back, local villagers came up with the idea of holding a festival every summer – Giortes Rokkas – a celebration of the arts, society and culture. With help from Grow Greek Tourism Online, villagers learned how to use technology to spread the word – not only helping to bring young people back, but inviting people across the world to share in the local culture. Every year the festival grows, places reopen, new businesses start, and once again the village is full of life.