Philoxenia 2013 Sees Visitor Numbers Increase – Photo Report

The 29th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, saw a 20 percent increase in trade visitors this year compared with last year’s exhibition, according to organizer TIF-Helexpo.

The Philoxenia exhibition took place this year 21-24 November along with the 9th International Exhibition for Local Government, Public and Social Sector & Private Enterprises (POLIS).

According to TIF-Helexpo, both exhibitions attracted a total of 9,815 guests to the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center. Specifically, Philoxenia welcomed 7,856 visitors and Polis welcomed 1,959. Trade visitors to both exhibitions amounted to 3,848.

TIF-HELEXPO President Tasos Tzikas

The turnout of the general public interested in learning the latest developments in the tourism sector and local government was quite impressive.

The number of visitors to both exhibitions amounted to 5,548.

“This shows the prospect of Philoxenia becoming a reference point for tourism in Southeast Europe,” the organizer said.

The 100 hosted buyers who visited the Philoxenia exhibition held over 1,300 B2B meetings with Greek enterprises. The hosted buyers came from 33 countries in Europe, the Balkans, Asia, U.S., Canada, Brazil and Africa.

In regards to participation, Philoxenia this year hosted 235 exhibitors.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and the Greek National Tourism Organization’s Secretary General Panos Livadas at the GNTO’s stand.

Philoxenia 2013: Exhibitors

Exhibitor’s at the 29th Philoxenia international tourism exhibition included:

Tourism enterprises

Mouzenidis Travel

Qatar Airways

Beleon Tours

Filos Holidays & Travel

Meli Tours

Greek destinations

Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs

Region of Peloponnese

Municipality of Monemvasia - The Laconia Hotel Association President Dimitris Pollalis (right) with representatives of the Municipality of Monemvasia and the president of the Monemvasia Tourism Promotion Committee, Babis Lyras (second from right).

Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace

Region of Thessaly

Municipality of Parga

Municipality of Chios - Ourania Tora, Municipality of Chios tourism office; Apostolia Lykou, regional director at Chios regional unity; and Rena Damigou, Municipality of Chios public relations and tourism office.

Region of South Aegean

Region of North Aegean

Region of Ionian Islands

Halkidiki

Epirus - Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni at the Epirus stand.

Exhibitors from abroad

Russia participated in this year’s Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition in Thessaloniki, Greece, after several years of absence.

During Philoxenia, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced a strategic move in the Turkish market to Greece’s benefit: the opening of a Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office in Istanbul.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni at the stand of the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

A gift was given to Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni while she visited the Philoxenia exhibition stands prior to the inauguration ceremony.

Highlights

Panagiotis Zelelidis, president of the Macedonia – Thrace Hotel Managers Association, speaking at the association’s second annual conference.

Highlights of both exhibitions included the POLIS conference on “Creative cities – Combining innovation with sustainable growth,” co-organised by TIF-HELEXPO and OTS; and the two Philoxenia conferences: “Macedonia-Thrace: Sites of Saints, Sites of Pilgrims” (of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace and the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki held in cooperation with the Synodical Office of Pilgrimage Tours of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and with TIF-HELEXPO) and “The Role of new markets in the growth of Greek tourism” (the second annual conference of the Macedonia-Thrace Hotel Managers Association).

According to TIF-Helexpo, the conferences held on the sidelines of Philoxenia, developed important concerns for local government and Greek tourism.

Parallel events

Greek Tourism Ministry-Greek National Tourism Organization briefing. GNTO's general secretary, Panos Livadas, speaking in regards to Greece’s communication campaign and the targeted actions developed through the Internet to attract tourists with special interests.

The Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers’ annual council of hotel associations

Briefing to Greek travel agents by the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA).

Mouzenidis Group presented its new strategy to the Greek market that includes new activities in aviation (Ellin Air) and medical tourism (Grekomed); the expansion of its network of offices abroad; the launch of new outbound tourism programs to Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and other European cities and new individual travel programs and honeymoon programs and cruises; and the upgrade of its online reservation system.

HATTA Awards ceremony - The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) honored the best travel agency brochures and websites.

The “Greek Breakfast of Thessaloniki” was presented at a special event by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels. Guests had the opportunity to sample various creations that will be included on the breakfast menus of hotels in Thessaloniki.

Other parallel events held during this year’s Philoxenia included a briefing by the Greek Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO); a briefing by the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA); the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers’ annual council of hotel associations; a presentation of “Greek Breakfast of Thessaloniki”; and a series of press conferences/media events on many Greek destinations such as Halkidiki, Chios, the Region of South Aegean, the Region of North Aegean, the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Parga and Milos.

Press Conference of the Halkidiki Tourism Organization.

Press Conference of the Municipality of Chios.

Press Conference of the Region of the North Aegean.

Press Conference of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace.

Press Conference of the Region of the South Aegean.

Municipality of Parga media event.

Next year’s Philoxenia will be held 20-23 November.