The project target areas (Rhodes, Syros, Thira and Limassol) are important tourist areas with increased arrivals during the summer months. Additionally, Syros and Rhodes are the administrative centers of the Cyclades and Dodecanese respectively, while Rhodes is also candidate for 2021 Cultural Capital. Consequently, the content of the project is in line with the direction of creating modern and sustainable mobility infrastructure, capable to respond to the needs created due to increased demand for urban public transport.
More specifically, Rhodes has a population of 152.538, while visitors for the year 2015 came up to 1.89 million, Syros has a population of 21.475 while visitors for the same year came up to 28.000. These numbers are increasing if we also include students living on the two islands. At the same time, Santorini has a population of 17.752 and received more than 2 million visitors in 2015. Finally, Limassol has a population of 235.330 and receives 250.000 visitors a year. The EY-KINHSH project is mainly aiming to promote smart, sustainable and alternative mobility in the transnational area. Participating regions are expected to develop a model organizational and operational context for the strengthening and environmental upgrading of Public Transport.
Budget:
- Rhodes Municipality: 423.300 euro
- Syros Municipality – Hermoupolis: 221.480 euro
- Municipality of Thira: 221.510 euro
- Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Co Ltd: 257.780 euro
- Frederick Research Centre: 182.220 euro
Total project budget: 1.306.290 euro
The island of Rhodes, with the capital Rhodes, which is the Administrative Capital of the Dodecanese, is located in the southeastern part of Greece, at the crossroads of the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.
Syros is located in the heart of the Aegean Sea and has the cosmopolitan charm of a lady. A ruling power with Hermoupolis as the capital of the island and also of the Cyclades Islands, that preserves and reassures the charm of a different era.
Thira Municipality consists of the island of Santorini, Thirassia, Palea and Nea Kameni and Aspronissi. It is the southernmost island of the Cyclades and is one of the top tourist destinations worldwide.
The Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company Ltd (LTC) is the official tourism body of the Limassol region and is aiming to promote the further development of the area and to market Limassol.
Frederick Research Centre is one of the most important research organisations in Cyprus. It was established in 1995 to create a solid base for the development of scientific research activities of Cypriot and foreign scientists.
PROJECT DELIVERABLES
In the context of the project there are different categories of deliverables:
- Project Management: Management of the project and Organisation of meetings (kick off meeting, Intermediate meetings, Final meeting).
- Project Publicity: Includes promotions in the local press mainly, while it also includes Seminars for dissemination of project results in the implementation areas and elsewhere, as well as project website, electronic newsletter featuring news on an ongoing basis regarding the activities and the deliverables of the project.
- Integrated Multichannel Telematic Passenger System for Public Transport, in the implementation areas (Rhodes Municipality, Municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis, Municipality of Thera, Limassol Municipality)
- Acquisition of low emission vehicles by the lead partner (Rhodes Municipality)
One of the basic priorities that all urban and outermost areas are required to follow according to the European Directives for Mobility and Transport as well as the targets set for Europe 2020 – which are adopted completely by the Business Plan “Infrastructure for Transport, Environment and Sustainable Development 2014-2020” and the Regional Programs of the same period – is the strengthening of sustainable mobility and the promotion of travelling using the Public Transport which will serve the target of “mass transport” and at the same time will ensure the “quality” of transportation and lower emissions. Evidently, these objectives reflect the different elements of the European transport instructions, aiming to ensure sustainable mobility for all citizens, drastic decrease of CO2 emissions in transportation and full usage of technological advancements. Regarding usage of technological advancements, since 2008 the European Union has promoted the action plan for the dissemination of smart systems in transportation in Europe COM (2008) to promote a turn towards a more sustainable way of travelling and aiming to upgrade the quality of the environment, equality in terms of accessibility and information and also the availability of best financial practices for citizens. Evidently smart systems can make the life of citizens better, through “smart”, financially efficient and “green” transportation while at the same time they promise to revolutionize the traffic management centres of cities, through the collection and processing of information for the best management of transportation infrastructure and the timely response in case of accidents.