Maria Vrasida

BA in Architecture, University of Liverpool; MA in Town and Regional Planning, University of Liverpool; PhD in Spatial and Town Planning, Tourism and Coastal Development, University of Thessaly

Maria Vrasida is a distinguished academic and consultant with extensive expertise in sustainable tourism planning and destination development. With a PhD in Planning Policies for the Development of Tourism from the University of Thessaly (UTH), and advanced degrees in Town and Regional Planning and Architecture from the University of Liverpool, her career spans over two decades of teaching and research.

As a lecturer since 2000, she has contributed to institutions such as UTH, GBSB, UCG, UNIPI, and Wittenborg University, focusing on areas like spatial aspects of sustainable tourism, integrated destination management, and the interplay of culture, tourism, and the environment. She is particularly interested in the role of technology in tourism and has authored more than 25 research papers published in internationally accredited conferences and journals.

Dr. Vrasida’s practical contributions include serving as an independent consultant for municipal tourism initiatives in Greece and advising on European and national funding projects, such as INTERREG, HORIZON, COSME, ERASMUS+, LIFE, ESPON, and FP-7. Her portfolio also features involvement in tourism and cultural destination projects across Europe and the Mediterranean, including Venice, Magnesia, and the Lebanese coast. Additionally, she is recognized as an ad hoc expert in strategic tourism planning for the URBACT European initiative, highlighting her significant impact on policy and practice within the field.

Selected Publications

• Vrasida, M. (2024). Wine Tourism: A Complex Tangible, Intangible and Experiential Marketing Matrix. In: Kavoura, A., Borges-Tiago, T., Tiago, F. (eds) Strategic Innovative Marketing and Tourism. ICSIMAT 2023. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51038-0_9 (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-51038-0 ). Double peer-reviewed selected conference papers
• Tsakiri E, Vrasida M, (2024). Reinventing Loutra Aidipsos: Strategies and Concepts for a Holistic Sustainable Development of Thermal Settlements. Journal of Sustainable Development Culture and Traditions. ISSN: 2241–4010, DOI: 10.26341/issn.2241-4002-2024-4a-2-T02166  Double peer-reviewed selected conference papers
• Vrasida, M (2021), Underwater Cultural Tourism and Alternatives to Diving Tourism, 2nd International Conference “Dive in Blue Growth”, Special Issue on Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408)
• COOL NOONS Interreg EuroMed Project Coordinator. Through the Cool Noons project, pilot cities will experience innovative solutions to enhance the visiting experience of tourists and residents in the cities during the hottest hours of the day. The main goal is to make Mediterranean cities more resilient to climate change and more welcoming during the hot summer days