Introduction
Military tourism represents an emerging form of special‑interest tourism in Greece and is conceptually situated within the wider field of cultural tourism. Its formal institutional establishment as a distinct tourism product began in May 2021 through a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministries of National Defense, Tourism, and Culture. The purpose of this initiative is to highlight, promote, and showcase military tourism as a mechanism for enhancing economic activity and advancing sustainable development, particularly in rural and borderland regions. These areas are facing explicit demographic and socio‑economic decline. As an accessible and affordable activity without age restrictions, military tourism is expected to create opportunities for increasing local income, supporting primary agricultural production, generating stable year‑round employment prospects for local communities. Also it is considered to enhance national consciousness and promote the significance of peace, and also affect positively the foreign visitors’ aspect about the Greek historical heritage and potentials.  

Research questions

Tourism’s contribution to local and regional development is particularly significant for mountainous areas such as the Municipality of Pogoni in Ioannina. This region possesses a rich historical legacy and valuable natural resources. It is also the site of the first victorious battles of the Hellenic Army against Mussolini’s ground forces in 1940 (Svoronos, 1994). The local administration of Pogoni has announced plans to create a comprehensive military history park, under the auspices of the Athens War Museum. The present research examines the prospects and constraints of this initiative within a complex socio‑economic and geopolitical environment.
Military tourism can engage a wide audience and can be integrated with other forms of special‑interest tourism, such as nature‑based, religious, and gastronomic tourism. The combination of these special forms enhances the overall attractiveness of a destination. Within this framework, the study addresses the following questions:
• What opportunities and risks emerge from establishing a large‑scale military tourism project in Pogoni?
• Can such a project empower a sustainable tourism product capable to offer regional resilience?
• How could the examined military tourism  interact with local production systems and the broader local economy?
• In what ways could this development evolve into a soft‑power projector?

Methods
This study employs a mixed‑methods design that integrates quantitative and qualitative analyses. Quantitative data from online visitor reviews (Google Maps) are used to assess visibility, visitation levels, and perceived cultural value. Qualitative thematic analysis of visitor comments captures experiential and emotional dimensions of engagement with military heritage. Additionally, a relative numerical comparison is conducted across three most famous military museums: Kalpaki (Epirus), Roupel (Macedonia) and the Athens War Museum. This provides insight into patterns of attractiveness and recognizability for military tourism in national range.

Key finding

Resilience describes the ability of a socio‑ecological system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while maintaining essential structures and functions (Adger, 2000; Folke, 2006). In the case of Kalpaki, military tourism can foster such resilience by increasing visitor flows and creating demand for improved services. The area already contains an integrated network of cultural and historical assets suitable for the development of a coherent thematic route. Dining options exist, but accommodation remains insufficient to handle significant increases in visitors, indicating a need for targeted infrastructure enhancement. By improving the specific offered product, a broader impact on the visitors expectations, could lead to more distinct comprehension or admiration on Greek modern history and temperament. Both economical and cultural effects, regard to geopolitical influence.

Contribution
With appropriate state support and strategic planning, military tourism in Pogoni can contribute to a localized redistribution of power by strengthening economic vitality, reinforcing cultural and national identity, and enhancing regional resilience. Its proximity to Albania and Northwestern Balkans, upgrade Pogoni as a transboundary node, adding an additional geopolitical dimension. The study evaluates these dynamics through the framework of Systemic Geopolitical Analysis (Mazis et al., 2019), with emphasis on soft‑power projection as conceptualized by Nye (2004). Overall, military tourism can operate simultaneously as a tool of local development and as an instrument of soft power projection.