GNTO: Year Ahead ‘Uncertain’ for Greek Tourism, Structural Changes a Must

Greece’s tourism stakeholders will have to readapt to a new reality as the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic lingers into the new year creating uncertainty and the need for structural changes, said Dimitris Fragakis, secretary general, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) during the Greek Hospitality Awards.

Fragakis said tourism sector recovery will be gradual. The Covid-19 pandemic brought about changes, and “we still do not know how much it will change and in which direction”, he said.

“We will have a difficult time and 2021 will not be an easy year, this will also be an uncertain year. Even if we have positive developments in the health sector, it will take some time to return to normalcy,” he said.

Dimitris Fragakis, Secretary General Greek National Tourism Organization

Fragakis went on to add that the GNTO had launched a series of marketing and promotional actions but that 2021 will depend on how the pandemic is managed, its development, people’s reactions and how tourism enterprises will cope over the next months.

“Everything will be depend on how we will adapt to the new conditions”, he said.

On a positive note, he said that Greece managed despite the unprecedented circumstances to win the approval of the industry thanks to the professionalism demonstrated by Greek tourism professionals and employees, which he said was a “very important asset in view of 2021” as was the fact that Greece succeeded in restarting tourism at this time.

The GNTO’s main priority, Fragakakis said, is to maintain Greece’s reputation and strong brand name and to improve the GNTO’s reach through its channels worldwide.