Successive actions aimed at promoting Naxos, the Small Cyclades, Central Macedonia, and, more broadly, Greece’s sustainable and multi-thematic tourism product in the French market were carried out in November by the GNTO France Office.
Specifically, on 18 November 2025, it organized in Paris a special promotional event dedicated to Naxos and the Small Cyclades, in cooperation with the municipalities of these islands.
The head of the GNTO France Office, E. Anagnostopoulou, with the Deputy Mayor of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, E. Katsaras, and journalists from French television networks France TV2, France 5 and France 24.
The event was attended by editors from major French print and digital media (Le Figaro, Marie Claire, Escapade Magazine, D?sirs de Voyages, Le Parisien, Les Echos, Yonder, Saveurs, Femme Actuelle, Subaqua, Voyageons autrement, Aufildeslieux.fr, Voyager-magazine.fr, among others), producers and journalists from major TV networks (France TV2, France 5, France 24), as well as product managers from French tour operators (Thalasso, Petit Fut?, Voyages Priv?).
During the event, the head of the GNTO France Office, Emy Anagnostopoulou, spoke about the uniqueness and authenticity of Naxos and the Small Cyclades and invited participants to discover these destinations, which exemplify sustainability and accessibility, far from mass tourism, offering a wide variety of gentle nature-based activities, marine tourism, and exceptional gastronomy.
From the event promoting Naxos and the Small Cyclades in France. Pictured (from left) are the head of the GNTO France Office, E. Anagnostopoulou, the Deputy Mayor for Finance and Tourism of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, E. Katsaras, and M. Nikolaou from Evi Evane.
For their part, the Deputy Mayor for Finance and Tourism of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, Evangelos Katsaras, and the municipality’s tourism consultant, Makis Bitzios, presented in detail the comparative advantages of the destination, emphasizing new tourism products and the wide range of thematic tourism experiences the islands offer their visitors.
A promotional video was also shown, while advertising material and local products were distributed, and four trips were raffled, which will be co-organized by the Municipality and the GNTO France Office.
General view of the venue where the “Greek” lunch was held.
The event concluded with a lunch featuring local products, prepared by the award-winning chef and ambassador of Greek gastronomy, Dina Nikolaou, and the director of the Evi Evane restaurant, Maria Nikolaou. During the lunch, Ms. Anagnostopoulou and Mr. Katsaras had the opportunity to speak with the French journalists, further strengthen cooperation with the attending media, and plan television shoots and familiarization trips to the islands in the near future.
Participation in the annual ADONET meeting
On the same day, the GNTO France Office took part in the annual press meeting of ADONET (Association des Offices Nationaux Etrangers de Tourisme en France), which represents 52 national tourism organizations based in France.
The Yachts de Paris, where the annual ADONET press meeting was held.
The meeting was held at Yachts de Paris and was attended by 130 French journalists from the country’s leading media outlets and 58 influencers.
During the meeting, GNTO France officials had the opportunity to brief the media representatives on Greece’s new tourism products and explore the prospects of organizing press trips and familiarization trips to various Greek destinations in the coming period.
Press trip promoting Central Macedonia
Furthermore, from 30 October to 2 November, the GNTO France Office organized, in collaboration with the Region of Central Macedonia, a press trip for two journalists from the popular news outlet Actu.fr (Occitanie edition) and the reputable travel industry website laquotidienne.fr.
The French journalists visited Thessaloniki, Pieria, Imathia, Pella, Serres and Kilkis, destinations rich in cultural heritage, natural beauty, gastronomy and urban life. They were guided through the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina), the archaeological site of Dion, Mount Olympus, wineries, museums, and other places of historical interest.
From the visit of the French journalists to the Royal Tombs of Vergina.
The visit offered a comprehensive picture of the unique experiential activities available to modern travelers in northern Greece, aiming to promote Central Macedonia as an ideal destination for city breaks, cultural and gastronomic tourism, alternative holidays, sustainability, and soft activities — all with the goal of extending the tourist season from the French market throughout the year.
Actu.fr has an average circulation of 68,000 copies for its weekly Toulouse edition (Occitanie), while its online edition receives more than 26 million visitors per month. Its audience has high purchasing power and seeks new, authentic travel experiences with an emphasis on city tourism, culture, sustainability, consumption of local products, and outdoor activities. The website laquotidienne.fr targets primarily tourism professionals and receives around 140,000 monthly visits.
During the French press delegation’s tour of the Skra Lake (Emerald Lake) area in Kilkis.
The features by the two media outlets on Central Macedonia are expected to be published in late 2025 and early 2026.
