The crisis our country is experiencing makes it necessary to create and implement new development models not only at the national level but also at the regional level. The book focuses on sustainable regional development models, with particular emphasis on the region of Crete.

It combines theoretical and empirical approaches presented at the development symposium held in Chania, Crete, on January 29-30, 2011. The role of regional development is strengthened under the conditions of globalization and international integration. Many development opportunities are linked to local production factors.

The international community promotes regional development through the European Union's regional development programs, the UN's Local Agenda, and other initiatives. Regional development is a process of improving the well-being of residents in a specific region by leveraging existing data, creating new comparative advantages, and enhancing competitiveness.

In our time, it showcases new trends and characteristics such as the connection of regional development to sustainability, green development, the transition from top-down to bottom-up regional development models, the intensification of competition among regions, strengthening the developmental role of knowledge, the creation of local production systems and related activities, and the enhancement of territorial cohesion.

In Greece, regional development is particularly significant due to the large regional disparities and the vast number of mountainous and island areas. It has gone through many stages of evolution and is promoted through various programs and institutional reforms. The Kallikrates reform can contribute to regional development by creating larger municipal and regional units, securing increased powers and financial resources for municipalities and regions, and activating local developmental resources.

The book presents the data and peculiarities of Crete. Many specific proposals are made for the development of infrastructure, the completion of spatial and urban planning, land registry and forestry, the protection of biodiversity, aromatic and medicinal plants, tourism development, and the creation of the Cretan Basket with groups of goods and services and elements of environment, culture, and tradition.

The proposals constitute a unique model of integrated sustainable development for Crete. With their implementation, the Region of Crete can emerge as a model of regional development. Achieving this goal can be supported by combining two development strategies for Crete. The first is the traditional development strategy based on leveraging the classic production factors and the comparative advantages that Crete has in the fields of agriculture, livestock, fishing, shipping, tourism, and culture.

The second strategy is the new development strategy based on knowledge, research, and innovation, creating new dynamic competitive advantages by utilizing the educational and research potential of Crete.