ATHENS – Greece’s push to attract more tourists isn’t just to lure them to visit year-round, but also to offer experiences beyond the sun, sand, beaches, islands, history, culture, and archaeological sites that the country is known for.

Now, this will also include gastronomy, featuring the country’s world-renowned food, as well as visits to producers, breweries, wine makers, and other industries related to eating and drinking.

A new platform and mobile application have been launched to allow foreign visitors to find their way around the country – or eat and drink their way around – and get to meet local culinary product producers, according to GTP Headlines.

The Gastronomy Tours platform lists all of Greece’s producers that have facilities open to the public for visits. Through the new app, which was officially presented recently in Athens, tourists can make appointments online to meet producers, have a guided tour, observe a product’s production process, and sample local products such as honey, olives, wine, and beer, among others, the report said.

“This platform has a particular value for our country since it functions as a unique promotional tool to a global audience that is interested in getting to know the destination they are visiting through authentic experiences and the people who create them,” said Alexandros Megapanos, a Greek winemaker who is behind the creation of the app, the news site said.

The app lists gastronomy museums and a calendar of events, including festivals, carnivals, and other places that feature food and local recipes. Tourists can meet food producers and sample their wares.

“The platform is a way to highlight Greek creativity, Greek cuisine, the way of life, and the customs of Greece, to an audience that to this day remains untapped,” Megapanos said.

Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki said, “The culinary excellence of Greek destinations is a huge asset that makes us stand out from other destinations,” and helps to attract more people.

“We aim to bring to the surface all the special experiences that each region offers such as gastronomy tourism, which can be harmoniously combined with agritourism and wine tourism,” she also said.