Resting on two of the main pillars of the Greek economy, i.e., the agri-food sector and the tourism and leisure sector, the Center of Excellence in Food, Tourism & Leisure promotes the intellectual, pedagogical and outreach infrastructure necessary to make Greece a leading academic innovator in these vital sectors. Through fostering innovative research, teaching, and public outreach in the areas of food, tourism and leisure by means of targeted academic programs, fellowships, internships, lectures, policy papers, media productions, symposia and conferences, the CoEFTL seeks to help propel Greece’s economic growth.

The CoEFTL provides a forum for the interchange of ideas between agri-food and tourism researchers, educators, managers and policymakers from a perspective that is multi-disciplinary and international. Among other unique roles, the CoEFTL identifies emerging issues and opportunities that will influence future agri-food, tourism and leisure research, education, management and policy. In this way, the Center intends to play a decisive leadership role in linking research and practice.