Kate Smith CMG, Ambassador of the UK to Greece

Tourism is a key driving force for Greece’s growth, an outward-looking, vibrant sector

We British have always been great travelers.  We love to see new places, try different experiences, and meet new people.

Year after year Greece is one of our top choices,  and rightly so.

History and culture, the amazing sea and landscape, wonderful food and drink, and the hospitable and open Greek people are the magic ingredients for millions of happy memories every year.

For many a summer holiday on a Greek island or a long weekend in Athens is the start of a life-long, personal relationship with the country and its people.

…For many a summer holiday on a Greek island or a long weekend in Athens is the start of a life-long, personal relationship with the country and its people…

Kate Smith CMG, Ambassador of the UK to Greece

Many Brits come back year after year to the same beloved spot, or to explore a different part of Greece. Others choose Greece as their home away from home, buy property and spend much of their winter, or retirement here.

These strong links between our two people build valuable bridges that stand the test of time.

We saw that after the Thomas Cook collapse and the repatriation operation of around 50,000 holidaymakers from the UK. UK and Greek government services, local authorities, and the tourism industry came together in 14 airports around the country to take care of and ensure the safe repatriation of 17000 stranded tourists back to the UK.

Nothing spoke louder about professionalism, promptness, attentiveness and above all humanity of those working in the Greek tourism sector. And this was at a time when they themselves were very concerned about the potential impact of the situation on their business and livelihoods.

We know that impact could be serious for many operators in Greece, especially hotel owners.

This unfortunate development came about due to a number of factors, mostly related to the nature of the tourism market and the company’s poor financial and business decisions over a number of years.

But there is good news too.

We are optimistic about next season’s prospects, and the tourism & travel industry in the UK is already stepping in to fill in the gap left by Thomas Cook. And what’s more, since the UK and EU have already reached an agreement that UK travelers will not need visas to holiday in European destinations, with or without a Brexit deal.

Tourism is a key driving force for Greece’s growth, an outward-looking, vibrant sector.

Greece’s hugely experienced operators and younger, brilliant minds coming into the industry are developing innovative products and services which reinvent and broaden the Greek experience for millions of travelers.

And UK investors are not lagging behind. Major British players in real estate and leisure are active in the market, and we expect more to come.

Καλή δύναμη to everyone working in this fascinating field!

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