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Nikolaos Blanas
Building: Dpt of Business Administration Office: Email: nikosblana@uth.gr Telephone: +30 2410-684590 https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=i5C5Q84AAAAJ https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56441513900 |
CURRENT POSITION | Professor of Project Management Professor at the Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Thessaly. My teaching includes evaluation of projects and basic knowledge of Project Management. | |
PriorExperience | ||
Public Sector: | 2001-2005: Director at the Unit A (Programmation and Evaluation) of the Management Authority of the Operational Programme of Thessaly, for the period 2000-2006, Region of Thessaly Larissa, Greece. | |
1998-2001: Member of the Management Organisation Unit (MOU) of the Operational Programme of Thessaly, for the period 1994-1999. Region of Thessaly Larissa, Greece. | ||
Private Sector: | Managementconsultantof the Operational Programme of Thessaly, for the period 1989-1994. Scientific consultant of Development Society in Elassona’s district. (1993) Feasibility studies of development projects LIFE, RECITE and Local initiatives LEADERI & II (1990-1995) | |
Education | ||
1992: University of Paul Valery, Montpellier, France Doctor of Philosophy in Regional development Mention: with honors Thesis statement: Project for the economic development of Olympus. | ||
1988: Agronomic Mediterranean Institute of Montpellier, France M.Sc in rural and nutrition Policies, Thesis statement: The effects of river Achelloos’ deviation, in rural economy of Larissa’s department. | ||
1987: University of Paul Valery, Montpellier, France M.Sc in regional development, Thesis statement: Economic perspectives for the development of mountains areas. | ||
1983: University of Thessaloniki, Department of Agriculture, Greece Specialization: rural economy, programmation and sociology Thesis statement: Applications of the Linear programmation for the reorganization of the rural production in the district of Agia Larissa. | ||
languages | ||
Greek (native language), French (excellent), English (good) | ||
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Kyriakou D., Sdrolias L. Aspridis G., Koustelios A., Blanas N., Belias D. (2015). Domestic Tourism: Is this a chance for regional development of Thessaly under financial crisis? 1st International Conference of Development and Economy Kalamata Peloponnese Greece 2-4/10/2015
During the last two decades tourism in Greece has become a mass industry concentrated in the island areas. Although they were not part of the more developed regions of the country, tourism in its current structure contributes to the strengthening of interregional disparities in Greece. In addition, in the centers of mass tourism socio -economical unsustainable mend and supply structures evolved. Simultaneously, a question was raised whether the domestic tourism market can increase, and can it offer a socio - economic alternative to the further expansion of international mass tourism. Thus, the so far little developed Center and Northern Greece, with an abundance of historical sites and natural highlights, can offer new destinations for domestic travelers while contributing to a sustainable development of these regions. As a precondition a national domestic tourism policy, stable prices and a strong promotion of the new destinations are essential in these turbulent economic times.
Kyriakou D., Sdrolias L. Koustelios A., Blanas N., Belias D. (2015). Destination Re-Branding Through Experiential Tourism: An Alternative Solution For Greek Tourism?. International Scientific Conference eRA – 10, Piraeus, Greece, 23- 25 September 2015.
In today’s global, informational economy of rapid change, opportunities and threats arise equally for tourism organisations as well as tourism destinations. Unexploited Emerging Consumer Markets (ECM’s) on the one hand, and fragmented, dominated markets in the western world on the other call for a more than ever need for competent and effective management and strategy. ‘As tourism destinations become more substitutable due to increasing competition in global tourism markets, destination personality is seen as a viable metaphor for building destination brands and crafting a unique identity for tourism places’ (Caprara, Barbaranelli, and Guido 2001). Following this latter, the purpose of this study is firstly to identify and clarify how Greece's destination personality and branding is perceived by respondents who have visited the country as well as by those who have not and secondly to analyse the relationship between tourists intention to recommend due to the experiences offered to them during their stay. The contribution of the study hopefully will provide nutrition to improve the marketing strategy of the destinations and to provide data for further research regarding the perception of destination personality both on the pre-purchase and post- consumption phase. Keywords: Destination Branding, Brand Personality, Tourism Planning, Experiential Tourism, Consumer Behavior JEL: M31, L83
Kyriakou D., Mpregkou M., I Grigoriou., Blanas N., Belias D. & Koustelios A. (2015). Rethinking Of Experiential Tourism Through Social Media: Could Greece Keep Up The Pace? 10 th Annual MIBES International Conference, TEI of Thessaly, Larisa 15-17 October 2015.
The development of social media has been reported to have reshaped the tourism industry, as in general revolutionary information and communication technologies have deeply affected the society and its overall functioning. Facebook and Tripadvisor are two of the applications mostly discussed that do have an important impact on the image of the companies associated with the sector. The contribution of Greek tourism in the country's economy has been highlighted several times over the years. However, not all the regions contribute equally. More specific, coastal areas and islands that represent the core Greek tourist product, sea and sun, are the most popular ones whereas the rest of the Greek territory remains 'unexploited' in tourism terms. Through this study is attempted, two hot issues, such as social media and experiential tourism, to be approached and to conclude in whether a digital investment to promote experiential tourism would be a valuable one to generate tourism flow to sense and feel the taste of Greek tourism reality as an alternative of casual tourism marketing. In order to answer that, relevant literature has been reviewed. The current situation has been described, involving the promotion of Greece as destination and tourism-related enterprises using ICTs and social media. The factors affecting the effectiveness of the investment, like economic circumstances, the geography and culture of the region are also examined.
Belias, D., Kyriakou, D., Koustelios, A., Varsanis K. & Blanas N. (2015). Democracy and Greece in turbulent economic times: A myth or a reality? 4th Pan - Hellenic Conference on Applied Economics “ECONOMY & DEMOCRACY”. DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS. UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY. Volos, 23 24 November 2015
Democracies are characterized by greater freedom, executive accountability and turnover, openness, transparency, and the ability to credibly commit. Each of these characteristics brings important benefits, which are well-recognized. However, as suggested by Remmer (1990), they may also increase the likelihood of financial instability and crisis onset. The philosophical attachment to private liberty and freedom may contribute to excessive financial deregulation and liberalization. Frequent executive turnover may lead democratic leaders to neglect the long-term costs of policies that encourage short-term economic booms. But was Greek democracy largely able to weather the storms of the global recession? Greece’s acute fiscal challenges have resulted in widespread public anger and distrust of the government. Therefore, which is the most important factor explaining democratic resilience in turbulent economic times in Greece? This study will try to prove that despite their imperfections, democratic systems provide citizens at least some ability to express frustration peacefully through open debate and elections even though that was not much evident in Greece's case since Greek citizens do not continue to accept the political system as legitimate when the economic performance of the country still suffers.
Blanas N., Grigoriou I., Kyriakou D., Belias D. (2014). Development and utilization of human resource in the municipalities of Greece. The case of Trikala municipality. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. Volume 5 – Issue 27 . Page No 145 – 156
Chronic pathology suffering from the Greek government, especially local government and the reform imposed by the local municipalities program of Kallikratis combined with the economic crisis and the troika are the main reasons occupying this research and how through internal forces can municipalities find their way to a viable future. This work focuses on two levels. Firstly it records the current status of human resource in the Municipality of Trikala as well as it proposes a reorganization and restructuring of the foundations and management of human resources in this municipality aiming to a full utilization of capacities and skills. For this reason, the theory of human resources management with special thematic section on the development of human resources were examined in combination with the institution of local government in Greece. Particular attention was given to the introduction of the Kallikratis program and its impact within institutional, organizational, administrative, economic, and social level. Finally, this work tried to study the current status of human resource, especially in municipalities merged into a new municipality of Kallikratis program and how the new assessment system has helped to develop their abilities and skills. Moreover, what would be an ideal model for training and development of employees and what criteria exist for the relocation of employees in the proper position without conflicts. Ending and adding to this latter, what kind of conflicts were grown and how to handle them as well as to study motion reorganization of human resource for better utilization of capacities and skills.