Greece Aiming for Luxury Tourism with Six Key Actions  

Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis presented this week six actions as part of a tourism sector overhaul focused on quality and aimed at attracting higher income visitors to Greece in the coming years as part of the government’s 10-year tourism strategy.

“Our country can develop a range of products aimed at high-income visitors, offering luxury accommodation at 5-star facilities and above,” said Theoharis during the virtual conference organized by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and the Panhellenic Exporters Association of Greece.

Looking ahead to 2030, Theoharis said the plan focuses on actions that will enhance luxury tourism with emphasis on sustainable development and the promotion of genuine experiences for tourists with respect to local communities and the environment.

The six actions presented by Theoharis are:

• establishing a framework of operation for long-term leases of property in condo hotels
• revising specifications for the creation of golf courses in Greece
• establishing specifications and certification for “Glamping” activities (ie  luxury camping services)
• drawing up a legal framework for the development and promotion of diving tourism 
• creating new port facilities and entering concession deals for the operation of marinas with individuals with the aim of upgrading services offered
• certifying 12 thermal springs and the formulation of a special plan for the integration of natural springs in wellness and spa tourism, which already accounts for 6.5 percent of the tourism market.

Referring to Greece’s effective management of the Covid-19 crisis, Theoharis said “this period has helped us export ‘brand Greece’, not only as an idea, but also as one of the best tourist destinations in the world… a Greece on the technological forefront, which welcomes visitors in safety and with care”.