Nikolaos Lekas formulated the basic principles of Greek tourism and foresaw the need to create the EOT.
THE Nikolaos Lekas (1884-1947), lawyer born in Aragonese, Aegialia was the man who laid the foundations of modern Greek tourism. He was the first director of the Directorate of Foreign Affairs and Exhibitions of the Ministry of National Economy, established in 1919.
Deeply familiar with tourism issues, he wrote many texts on tourism, among which stand out his report entitled “Tourism in Greece” and “The Hotel in Greece” (1925), in which, on the one hand, he described in detail the existing situation and on the other hand, he gave suggestions that remain extremely relevant even today.
A characteristic excerpt from his most important work “Tourism in Greece” is as follows: “By developing tourism, it is obvious that we create an opportunity for our country, as a place before the eyes of the whole world, not only for its antiquities and natural beauties, but also for all its other strengths in all manifestations of life.”
But in his works, Lecas formulated specific proposals, some of which remain relevant even today, after 100 years.
Among his proposals was the need to implement tourism infrastructure projects, such as: projects near thermal springs, configurations in archaeological sites that gathered an extraordinary number of visitors at the time, as well as projects for the protection of areas of particular natural beauty.
He also specifically mentioned the following:
- Antiquities alone are not enough to hold the interest of foreigners.
- We should strive to increase the length of stay of visitors.
- There is a need to protect natural beauties (forests, curious phenomena)
- Promotion of Athens as a “mega tourist station of global interest”.
- Creation of information desks at the entry points of the country.
- Need to promote the institution of trade fairs.
Moreover, it was Nikolaos Lekas who foresaw the need for its creation EOT and had even drawn up its founding law. Later, after 1933, he was the chief secretary of the Ministry of National Economy, whose legislation he codified. In 1930 he was declared an honorary member of the Hellenic Mountaineering Federation.
His other writings were: The Hot Spring Bulletin (Publication of the Ministry of Health, 1934), The Bathers – The Hot Spring Guide of Greece (1940) and The Guide to Hotels in Greece, Tourist Office and Exhibitions (1932).
He died in Athens in 1947.
