- Need for sustainability, experience, and investment in the less prominent areas of the country
A substantive discussion on the present and future of Greek tourism took place within the framework of the 10th Delphi Economic Forum (9–12 April), with the participation of the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni and the editor-in-chief of the international magazine Monocle, Tyler Brûlé. The focus was on issues of sustainability, authentic experience, thematic tourism and alternative forms offered by the country.
Highlighting new destinations
The Minister of Tourism highlighted the need for continuous “beautification” of the tourism product, noting that in recent years, there have been significant investments in luxury tourism, especially in five-star accommodations. At the same time, she emphasized the authenticity and experience that the modern traveler seeks. “We were lucky that after the pandemic, there was such a great response to thematic tourism,” she noted.
Ms. Kefalogianni also focused on the lesser-known aspects of Greece, such as the mountainous landscapes and ski resorts, noting that our country is the second most mountainous in Europe. She focused on the need for balanced tourism development, highlighting new destinations and extending the tourist season in cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki.
Infrastructure, new markets, and partnership strategy
During the course of the discussion, the issue of infrastructure was raised, also with the occasion of Crete, where the new Heraklion airport is being built. The Minister stressed that the upgrading of infrastructure, local airports, and better connections with abroad are key axes of the strategy. At the same time, she spoke about the importance of the country’s digital promotion and the presence of Greece on all modern platforms.
Particular emphasis was placed on public-private sector cooperation: “Nothing is possible without cooperation,” she stated, revealing that the goal is to approach new tourist markets such as India, China, Korea, and the West Coast of the USA.
Tyler Brûlé raised the question of whether there is sufficient human resources to support investment plans, with the Minister responding that the Ministry has a “one-stop” service for investors, while highlighting the human element as a key advantage of Greece: “Hospitality is inherent in Greek culture,” she noted, adding that for the first time in the world, a human resources framework has been developed in collaboration with SETE.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
