With the aim of expanding its presence in the Italian tourism and educational market, Thessaloniki welcomed from 16 to 19 July 2025 representatives of Italian travel agencies as part of a familiarization trip (fam trip), which was organized by the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (TTH) in collaboration with the GNTO Office in Italy and its head, Ms. Kyriaki Boulasidou.
The mission aimed to explore the possibility of Thessaloniki’s inclusion in the Italian educational program PCTO (Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e l’Orientamento), which connects education with vocational training and experiential tourism.
PCTO is aimed at upper secondary school students in Italy and aims to develop skills such as collaboration, responsibility and creative problem-solving, through practical experiences that strengthen the connection between education and the labour market. The participation of destinations in the program translates into multi-day visits by students and teachers, with obvious benefits for the local economy and society.
The hospitality of the Italian tour operators was organized around a complete experience of Thessaloniki, with cultural tours, gastronomic experiences and visits to landmarks of the city. A special moment of the program was the meeting held on Wednesday 16 July with the participation of local bodies and the General Director of the Thessaloniki Tourist Board, Dr. Kyriaki Oudadzi, who presented Thessaloniki’s extroversion strategy with an emphasis on the connection between tourism and education.
The visit concluded with an excursion to the archaeological site of Vergina, highlighting the close connection of Thessaloniki with the broader historical and cultural identity of Central Macedonia.
According to the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, this specific action is part of the broader strategy for approaching new thematic markets and high-added-value communities. The Italian market – due to its geographical proximity, cultural ties and steady flow of visitors – is considered of key importance for the city’s tourism development.
Thessaloniki’s inclusion in the PCTO program is expected to further strengthen its international image as an educational and cultural destination, offering experiential experiences to young visitors, who come into contact with the city’s history, everyday life and identity. At the same time, it is expected to give impetus to sectors such as hospitality, catering and cultural services.
The Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, under the chairmanship of Mr. Stelios Angeloudis, continues to invest in actions to promote Thessaloniki internationally, with an emphasis on developing synergies that go beyond the traditional tourism product and integrate experience, education and sustainability at the center of its strategy.
