Greek-Turkish Tourism Cooperation

While on an official visit to Ankara last month, Tourism Minister Kostas Markopoulos informed his Turkish counterpart, Ertugrul Gunay, of the ministry’s decision to organize the “8th Greek-Turkish Tourism Forum” in October in Greece, with the participation of Greek and Turkish businessmen and tour operators.

During their meeting the two ministers exchanged views on further cooperation on tourism issues-a cooperation that could improve Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr. Markopoulos also informed the Turkish minister that Greece decided to set up a Greek National Tourism Organization office in Istanbul to promote Greek tourism and to provide information to Turkish citizens and investors.

The two ministers discussed the common finding that Greece and Turkey have strong resistance to the global economic crisis that affects tourism.

Additionally, as of 13 July Greece’s outdoor advertising campaign began to run for the first time in Turkey.