German Travel Association DRV to Hold 2020 Conference in Greece

German Travel Association (DRV) President Norbert Fiebig and Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis.

The German Travel Association (DRV) will hold its high-profile annual conference in Greece this year, an announcement by the Tourism Ministry said on Thursday.

DRV represents most of Germany’s tour operators, travel agents and suppliers.

According to the ministry, the conference will be held in October 2020 at the Costa Navarino resort in the Peloponnese.

The tourism ministry’s announcement came following a meeting held between Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis and representatives of DRV, including the association’s president, Norbert Fiebig, and CEO, Dirk Inger.

Minister Theoharis’ meeting was just one of the many he had during his visit to Berlin, Germany – a visit that took place despite the cancellation of the ITB Berlin travel trade show that was to run March 4-8.

Minister: Greece has faith in German market

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis with top executives of TUI Group.

“I decided to visit Berlin, wanting to pass two messages: that we have confidence in the German market despite the cancelation of the ITB exhibition and that Greek tourism continues its dynamic course,” the minister said, adding that the tourism ministry is proceeding with its strategy as originally planned.

“The German tourism market is one of the most important for Greece. About 4 million Germans come every year and in 2018 they spent 2.8 billion euros,” he added.

While in Berlin, Minister Theoharis met with top executives of TUI Group, the world’s largest travel group, including Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee of TUI Group; Sebastian Ebel, Member of the Executive Board TUI AG; Helen Caron, Group Purchasing Director at TUI Group; and Antonia Bouka, Group Head of Public Policy-Destinations.

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theohari’ meeting TUI Group’s executives.

During the meeting, the Greek tourism minister discussed the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the global tourism market and agreed to jointly address any challenges and opportunities that may appear.

Minister Theoharis also met with the president of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA), Pawel Niewiadomski, and discussed the measures Greece has announced to address the coronavirus outbreak.