Greece Signs Tourism Agreement with China

Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, after his recent visit to China, said he would take steps to open up the local tourism market to millions of Chinese holidaymakers. While in that country, he signed a cooperation agreement with his Chinese counterpart.

The cooperation agreement signed stresses the need to boost Olympic Games-related tourism. The two ministers also agreed to redefine the current Greek-Chinese tourism agreement after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in order to take into account the changing markets in the two countries because of the hosting the Olympic Games. (Beijing is to host the world’s largest sporting event in 2008.)

Immediate steps planned by the Greek side include the setting up of two Hellenic Tourism Organization offices in China, one in Shanghai and another in Beijing. The ministry said the Chinese are showing increased interest in Greek culture. The packages that are to be offered to the Chinese market will provide tours of archaeological sites after arrival in the Greek capital.

Another possible link between Greece and China will appear should Thessaloniki host the EXPO 2008 as Shanghai is seen as a possible host for EXPO 2010.

Today, estimates place 30 to 40 million Chinese tourists in higher economic groups that can be classified as potential high-income holidaymakers.

The Chinese are free to visit only government-approved destinations, a factor that increases the importance of the availability of a direct flight linking Greece and China for the cooperation agreement recently signed to be realistic.