In an important initiative to strengthen the tourist flow between Greece and Turkey, the two countries signed a Cooperation Protocol aimed at developing alternative tourism and improving transport connections.
The agreement was sealed in Ankara, within the framework of the 6th Joint Tourism Committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Nadir Alpaslan, and the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece, Anna Karamanli.
Turning to Alternative Tourism
During the meeting, as reported in Turkish press reports, Mr. Alpaslan placed particular emphasis on the need to diversify the tourism product, proposing to strengthen cooperation in sectors such as agritourism and coastal tourism.
“Cooperation in sectors that highlight experiences intertwined with rural life, such as agritourism, but also our geographical treasures, such as coastal tourism, can contribute to strengthening local economies and respond to the ever-growing demand for alternative forms of travel,” he noted.
Visa-on-Arrival as a catalyst
Special mention was made of the importance of the visa-on-arrival regime, which is already implemented for Turkish visitors to Greek islands and has yielded spectacular results.
In 2024, approximately 1.5 million Turkish citizens traveled to Greece, a number that significantly increased thanks to the convenience of a visa-on-arrival. In the same year, approximately 700,000 Greek tourists visited Turkey.
Mr. Alpaslan emphasized that the expansion of this measure could bring mutual benefits and further enhance tourist mobility.
Improving transport connections
Improving transport connections will play a key role in the further development of bilateral tourism. The two sides agreed that the creation of new routes and the expansion of existing ones will facilitate travel, increasing the comfort of travelers and at the same time strengthening economic and cultural relations.
