A total of 1,000 safety helmets have been provided by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA) to the Municipality of Agios Vasileios in Rethymno. These helmets will be made available as personal protective equipment for visitors to the Kourtaliotis Gorge. With this initiative, OFYPEKA contributes to enhancing safety not only for the visitors but also for the civil protection personnel of the municipality.

This donation is part of the ongoing cooperation between OFYPEKA and the Municipality, through which a new, organized visitor management model was introduced for the gorge. The aim is to ensure a high-quality visitor experience while also promoting and protecting the natural environment.

In the first year of the new model’s operation, 2025, and with the introduction of an entrance ticket, approximately 130,000 people visited the Kourtaliotis Gorge.

During a meeting between the Mayor of Agios Vasileios, Giannis Tatarakis, his team, and officials from OFYPEKA, several key issues were discussed. These included the ongoing management of the gorge and the progress of upcoming projects and studies focusing on its protection, promotion, and sustainable use.

Specifically, improvement works and infrastructure upgrades are planned for the existing footpath. These will focus on enhancing accessibility and visitor safety. Meanwhile, a study is underway to define the stream boundaries from the springs of Agios Nikolaos, through the Kourtaliotis Gorge, to the outflow of the river at Preveli’s palm forest. A preliminary study is also in progress for a pathway connecting the Kourtaliotis and Preveli Gorges.