INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW construction, maintenance and management of relevant works and facilities... “and (Article par 1a 8)” the preparation, implementation and participation in projects regarding tourism development and the promotion of alternative forms of tourism... “. The aforementioned environment area includes in particular (Article 75 1b) 1) “the preparation of local projects for the protection and enhancement of the natural, architectural and cultural environment...”. The aforementioned area of education, culture and sport includes, in particular (Article 75 1 b 6) “the protection of museums, monuments, caves as well as archaeological and historical sites in the area and their facilities.” From these provisions local authorities are responsible for matters relating to the protection, management, enhancement, and exploitation of the caves, which are located in their jurisdiction area. Within this framework, the Ministry of Culture has delegated the management of caves to local authorities. Since a single database doesn’t exist, only a few of the above management delegation decisions could be recovered and they involved particularly municipal utility authorities or municipal enterprises. Furthermore, following Article 36, par 1 Law 4049/2012 (Gov. Gazette A’35) property and areas owned by the Greek National Tourism Organization and managed by the Public Properties Company (e.g. an area of 9.805 sq.m. with a Tourist Pavilion in the cave Kastria in Achaia) were transferred to Municipalities. 4.3. The role of the Hellenic Public Properties Company Until 1997 the GNTO was responsible for the management and exploitation of caves. The GNTO operated a public limited company in accordance with the rules of private economy and acting in favor of the public interest; it was responsible for the tourist development, management and exploitation of its property. In this context, Law 376/1976 (Gov. Gazette A’173) established the XENIA SA. The company was dissolved under Law 2160/1993, Article 6 par 14 (Gov. Gazette A’118), and all property automatically returned to the ownership or use of the GNTO. In 1998 Law 2636/1998 (Gov. Gazette A’198) established a limited company called “Limited Company for the Property Development of the GNTO”. The Company, following denominations, mergers and acquisitions, has been operating since 2011 under the name “Public Properties Company”. It is responsible for the management and operation of the GNTO’s property. Therefore, the Company acquired the ownership and management of caves and the surrounding land, previously belonging to the GNTO.
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