- Meeting of the Minister of Tourism with a Polish parliamentary delegation – Sustainability, innovation, and bilateral synergies in focus
A Polish parliamentary delegation was welcomed by the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, at the Ministry of Tourism, as part of her official visit to Athens, following an invitation by the President of the Greece-Poland Friendship Group, Spyridon Koulkoudinas.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Minister Anna Karamanli and the Secretary General of Tourism Policy and Development, Vasiliki Koutsoukou, Ms. Kefalogianni underlined the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a bridge to strengthen bilateral relations, especially between countries that share common European values.
In her statement, the Minister referred extensively to Greek initiatives in view of the upcoming European meetings at ministerial level, focusing on the informal Summit of EU Tourism Ministers to be held in Warsaw (23-24 June). There, the strategy for sustainable tourism until 2026 is expected to be put on the table, with the aim of converging member states on common policy lines. Ms. Kefalogianni supported the need for these meetings to acquire a more institutional character and praised the role of the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in the European tourism strategy.
Focus on sustainable development and diversification of the tourism product
The Minister also referred to the contribution of tourism to the Greek economy and the use of the Recovery and Resilience Fund resources for projects that enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. Particular mention was made of the enrichment of forms of tourism, with an emphasis on religious tourism, which can contribute to the decongestion of classic destinations during peak periods and to the achievement of regional balance.
At the same time, she stressed the importance of technology as a tool for the sustainable management of the tourism phenomenon, highlighting the need for each EU member state to be able to finance relevant projects with clear and distinct sources.
In the context of the briefing on the Greek strategy, Ms. Kefalogiannis presented to the Polish delegation the mAIGreece digital application, a “smart visitor assistant”, which operated as a pilot and is now being upgraded to cover the needs of tourists more broadly, offering immediate information and support.
Polish interest in cooperation in sports tourism and tourist information
For its part, the Polish delegation, led by the President of the Poland-Greece Friendship Group, Wanda Nowicka, expressed its satisfaction with the discussion, describing it as interactive and productive. At the same time, he proposed cooperation in the field of sports tourism, especially in matters of preparation for international sports events, against the backdrop of Poland’s possible candidacies for the 2040 Olympic Games.
The Polish side also proposed the creation of an online information platform exclusively for Polish tourists, given the increased flow of visitors from Poland to Greece in recent years.
The meeting concluded with a joint statement of the need to strengthen institutional and technical cooperation in areas of common interest, as well as the momentum developing between the two countries in the tourism sector.
