GNTO Accelerates Greece Promo Drive with FAM Trips

Ikaria, Seychelles Beach. Photo source: GNTO

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) for the third year is continuing its promotion of Greece through a series of familiarization (FAM) trips organized for foreign journalists, bloggers and tour operators.

Chios, Church tower in Mesta traditional village. Photo source: GNTO

The first phase of the GNTO’s 2018 promotional activity for Greece will wrap up in July and will have included 167 FAM trips with the participation of some 587 journalists, bloggers and travel professionals from 27 countries.

The GNTO’s promotional activity comes under the tourism ministry’s national strategy for the promotion of the country as a 365-day tourism destination to new markets and the diversification of its product.

The FAM trips –made possible with the support of local GNTO departments, regional and municipal authorities, as well as private tourism stakeholders – give GNTO’s guests the opportunity to visit key destinations, sample Greek food and wine, participate in alternative travel experiences and meet with sector professionals to exchange views.

This year’s communication efforts focus on lesser-know Greek destinations and targeted promotion of special interest tourism in efforts to extend the tourism season.

Lesvos, Molyvos. Photo source: GNTO

Media from the UK, Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, and Romania, will represent the BBC, Travel Channel, Sunday Times, The Times, Daily Telegraph, the Evening Standard, France 2, France 5, Tagesspiegel, Die Presse, National Geographic Traveler, as well as bloggers from the UK, Holland, Denmark and Romania.

Meanwhile, CNN Travel is currently visiting Chios and Patmos for the promotion of the Greek islands’ gastronomy and culture, while Chinese tour operators, bloggers and media representatives will have the chance to cruise the Aegean islands.

The second phase of the GNTO campaign, which again includes FAM trips, will begin in August and run through to February 2019.