With the participation of 56 Saudi Arabian travel agents and tour operators, the “Greek Luxury Tourism & Gastronomy Workshop” by Tourism Media & Events took place at the Marriott Hotel in Riyadh on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. The goal of the event was to strengthen bilateral tourism relations between the two countries and to facilitate agreements ahead of 2026.
The event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, with the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) as the main sponsor. The Region of Crete and the Development Agency of the City of Athens – This is Athens also took part.
The new Ambassador of Greece to Riyadh, Aikaterini Varvarigou, honoured the workshop with her presence and delivered a greeting.
It is widely acknowledged that Greece is increasingly showcased internationally as a destination that combines luxury with authenticity. New investments in high-end hotel properties, the promotion of Greek gastronomy through local products, modern wellness services, and personalised hospitality experiences rank the country among the top choices for high-end travellers, including those from the Middle East.
At the same time, the growing momentum of the Saudi Arabian market towards Greece is confirmed by the expansion of direct flight connections and the increase in available capacity at Greek airports.
As part of the event, targeted B2B meetings were held between leading Greek tourism enterprises and destinations and Saudi travel agents and tour operators, strengthening prospects for new partnerships and further growth in travel flows to Greece.
Following the business meetings, presentations were delivered by the Region of Crete, represented by Dr Kyriakos Kotsoglou, Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism; the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, represented by Lena Stefanoudaki, Head of the Business Support Office; and Mideast Travel Worldwide, represented by Katerina Mousbeh, General Manager.
