In a strongly worded statement, the Association of GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organization) Employees denounced the Ministry of Tourism’s decision to suspend the operation of the GNTO office in Spain, despite the opposing recommendation from the Organization’s competent services, calling for the decision to be revoked.
This issue was first highlighted by Tornos News on July 18, in a report titled:
“Alarm over the closure of the GNTO Madrid Office | The impact on Spanish-speaking markets – What travel agencies told TN”
Key Points from the Statement
“The Association of GNTO Employees strongly condemns the unsubstantiated and arbitrary decision by the political leadership of the Ministry of Tourism to suspend the GNTO’s foreign office in Spain.
This decision was made without any official proposal and against the recommendation of the GNTO’s relevant departments.
The Madrid office has for years served as a vital promotional hub for Greece, not only for the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), but also for emerging markets in Latin America, with proven impact and operational efficiency.
The suspension was carried out:
Without prior consultation
Without a documented restructuring plan
Without ensuring future GNTO representation in these key markets
Sharp Questions to the Ministry
The Association asks:
“What strategic plan is the Ministry referring to? Is it the Tourism Promotion Strategy 2025–2028, which supposedly is still incomplete, hasn’t been shared with GNTO, and remains unknown to those directly involved?”
“Or is this ‘strategy’ simply the result of the personal opinions and preferences of the Ministry’s leadership, which consistently bypasses the GNTO’s expertise and input?”
Contradictions and Lack of Transparency
Serious concern arises from the fact that during a parliamentary question posed by SYRIZA MP Kalliopi Vetta on June 2, 2025, Deputy Minister Anna Karamanli responded that she “does not comment on rumors” regarding the closure.
However, it was later revealed that:
An official decision for the suspension had already been signed on April 11, 2025
It was uploaded to the government’s transparency portal (Diavgeia) on July 14, 2025
This means the Ministry:
Had made the decision three months earlier
Failed to disclose it to Parliament—either due to lack of information or a conscious choice to withhold the information
Industry Backlash
Tourism professionals are voicing strong objections, stressing that the GNTO office in Madrid was strategically vital for Greece’s presence in Spanish-speaking markets.
The Association’s Final Position
The GNTO Employees’ Association:
Unequivocally condemns the Ministry’s actions as deceptive and non-transparent
Warns of the risk of weakening Greece’s tourism diplomacy in key markets
Demands:
Immediate reversal of the decision
Full transparency regarding the process
Clear answers to employees and tourism stakeholders
“GNTO, as the institutional body for promoting Greek tourism abroad, must maintain an active presence and voice in global markets.
Decisions about its future **cannot be made in secret, without dialogue, without strategy, and without respect for its employees or Greece’s national tourism goals.”
The GNTO Employees’ Association Board of Directors concludes that it will continue to defend transparency, operational integrity, and the GNTO’s international effectiveness.
