Kiato combines mountain, sea, and fertile land. That’s why it sets a rich table for its visitors, offering them unique gastronomic delights. You will taste exceptional local products that you will want to take with you when you leave.
The productive structure of the local economy is mainly based on the primary and tertiary sectors of the economy, and to a lesser extent on the secondary sector.
Until 2008, the primary sector showed strong potential with a trend towards increasing employment, which was due to the satisfactory performance of the cultivation of the sultana grape, a fact that was reflected in the expansion of agricultural land in the southern part of the Municipality, where extensive land reclamation and conversion of forest land to agricultural land were recorded.
On the other hand, in the area north of the National Road and along the coastal front, a decrease in cultivated land was observed due to the expansion of residential use (for primary and secondary homes) and the conversion of agricultural land to land for residential use.
The majority of agricultural land is dedicated to vineyards and orchards with a trend towards increasing vineyards and fruit and vegetable cultivation.
The main products of local production in order of economic importance are as follows:
In recent years, the trends include the increase of irrigated areas through the construction of new irrigation projects and the gradual abandonment of annual crops, replaced by orchards and table grapes. The construction of the Asopos dam will contribute to the renewal of crops and the shift to other more efficient crops. The crops of the region, especially the organic cultivation of Sultana grapes, can be promoted to specific consumer groups and combined with processing activities (packaging and promotion in the national and international market) that will contribute to increased sales.
Livestock farming, specifically goat and sheep farming, characterizes the rural economy of mountainous Municipalities (Stymfalia-Feneos), with a significant increase in livestock capital in which bovine livestock participate more, followed by swine and then goats and sheep.
The tertiary sector (41.35%) follows, with the dominant economic activity being tourism, especially seaside tourism during the summer months and winter tourism in the mountainous inland of the Municipality, where significant accommodations have recently been created through the exploitation of the OPAACH and LEADER programs. The secondary sector (8.02%) shows little activity except for businesses engaged in processing agricultural products, food and beverage industry, and crafts associated with building materials, plastics, iron constructions, aluminum constructions, and wood.
