Greek Tourism Minister Sees ‘Business as Usual’ with Thomas Cook

Cook’s Club in Hersonisos, Crete, by Thomas Cook.

Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis recently met with Thomas Cook Chief Executive Officer Peter Fankhauser and discussed the prospects of their mutually beneficial cooperation and the future of Greek tourism.

Thomas Cook CEO Peter Fankhauser with Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis.

According to Thomas Cook, Fankhauser’s visit highlights the fact that Greece remains one of the most important destinations for the Group.

During the meeting, Minister Theoharis was briefed on the recapitalization of the Group’s balance sheet, as it has been in advanced discussions with Fosun Tourism for the latter to invest 750 million pounds in the business.

“Mr Fankhauser explained in detail the situation of the company and reassured me that Thomas Cook will remain one of the leading companies globally in the field of tourism,” Minister Theoharis said in a Twitter post.

“The meeting took place in a very reassuring and calm atmosphere and the feeling I received was that we proceed with business as usual,” he added.

In an announcement, Thomas Cook underlined that Fosun, an investor in the business for four years and its largest shareholder, will give the company the necessary boost to be in a competitive position and secure it has a solid future.

Casa Cook in Chania, Crete, by Thomas Cook.

In this context, Thomas Cook said it sees further investment plans in Greece, being it the country that it launched hotel concepts and innovative options for holidaymakers, including the first Casa Cook on Kos, the Cooks Club at Hersonisos on  Crete and the first Casa Cook for families in Chania, Crete, which targets a younger audience of holidaymakers.

“Thomas Cook stands by its commitment to continue pursuing the increase of the value of the Greek touristic product and generate revenue, giving emphasis to quality and infrastructures,” Thomas Cook CEO Peter Fankhauser said.

“In this way, we will be able to attract more holidaymakers, offering innovative tourism packages, even on mature destinations, so that they can engage more with the local community and spend more at the local market, while also ensuring that in their interactions, they will be less disruptive, fostering a model of sustainable tourism,” he added.

Fankhauser is among the first international business executives who visited Greece’s new tourism minister.

Last year Thomas Cook brought almost 3 million holidaymakers to Greece.