Dr. Maria Vrasida is an Assistant Professor in International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Deree – The American College of Greece. Dr Vrasida holds a PhD in Planning Policies for the Development of Tourism from the University of Thessaly. She received an MA in Town and Regional Planning with Specialization in Destination Development from the University of Liverpool and a BA in Architecture and Building Engineering from the University of Liverpool. She has been an academic lecturer for over twenty years and has participated in Intensive Socrates Programs for exchange of Master Level Students. Her current research interests include the spatial aspect of sustainable tourism planning and development, integrated tourism destination management and relationship between culture, tourism and the environment. She has published more than 25 original research papers in accredited refereed international conferences and journals. She has cooperated as an independent consultant for tourism development and promotion with Municipalities in Greece (Poros, Amarousion and more), and as a consultant for European and National funding projects INTERREG, COSME, ERASMUS +, LIFE, ESPON, FP-7 and more. She has participated in many tourism development projects for the development and management of tourism and cultural destinations (Venice, Magnesia, coast of Lebanon). She is appointed add hock expert in strategic tourism planning by the URBACT European initiative.