History

The Schools of the Ministry of Tourism (formerly the Organization of Tourism Education and Training) were established in 1937 as the first tourism education schools in Greece. Based on European and Swiss academic models, they provide secondary and post-secondary students with a solid foundation for a career in the tourism industry. Throughout their operation, these schools have served as role models for quality service, with many of their programs forming the basis for the creation of similar educational structures, while successfully supplying the tourism industry with thousands of highly skilled professionals.

 

The Experimental School of Advanced Vocational Training (S.A.E.K.) of Tourism of Macedonia was founded and began operations in 1956, under the name School of Tourism Professions (S.T.E.) of Thessaloniki, under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

The S.T.E. schools were initially established in 1937, based in Athens. Soon they expanded to various regions across Greece, under the name Schools of Tourism Professions (S.T.E.), operating within the model state facilities of the “XENIA-HΕLIOS” hotels, training students in hotel, restaurant, and culinary arts specialties.
The S.T.E. School of Thessaloniki, after numerous location changes, settled in 1984 at the “XENIA-HΕLIOS” training hotel in Peraia, Thessaloniki, where it remains located to this day.

In 2003, the legal operating status of the Schools was converted into a Legal Entity of Public Law (N.P.D.D.), with the establishment of the Organization for Tourism Education and Training (O.T.E.K.), which operated until January 2013. Subsequently, the structures of the Schools of Tourism Professions were integrated into the Ministry of Tourism and operated as Institutes of Vocational Training (I.E.K.) & Higher Schools of Tourism Education (A.S.T.E.). In 2022, the D.I.E.K. under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism were renamed to I.E.K. of Tourism.
In 2024, the I.E.K. of Tourism were renamed to Schools of Advanced Vocational Training of Tourism (S.A.E.K. of Tourism), following the renaming of the I.E.K. in accordance with a decision by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.
Finally, on May 10, 2024, the S.A.E.K. of Tourism of Macedonia, by joint decision of the Deputy Ministers of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports and of Tourism, was converted into the Experimental School of Advanced Vocational Training (S.A.E.K.) of Tourism of Macedonia, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism.

The operating specialties belong to the Orientation Groups of “Tourism Enterprise and Hospitality Industry Professions” and “Administration and Economics” of initial vocational training (Law 4186/2013) and provide Level 5 certification.