Greek Tourism Minister Visits Romania Ahead of Summer Re-opening

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis is on an official two-day visit to Romania as part of an awareness-raising effort ahead of Greece’s re-opening to tourists on May 14.

Theoharis is scheduled to meet Romanian government officials, including Economy Minister Claudiu Nasui, tourism stakeholders, and media to discuss Greece’s tourism re-start strategy in the post-Covid-19 era and its aim to emerge as a leading tourism destination in the Balkans and the Mediterranean.

With a population of 19.5 million and 1.4 million who travel each year, Romania is a very important market for Greek tourism with Greece being a leading choice, the minister said in an announcement, adding that there was room still for further development. 

“Greece is contributing to the re-start of travel by strengthening and facilitating the flow of travelers from the closest countries,” said Theoharis.

Photo © GTP

Romania is a key emerging market for Greece, which saw the number of inbound visitors increase by 19.9 percent from 1.1 million in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2019.

According to data provided by the tourism ministry, Romanian travelers prefer Greece due to similar customs, religion and historic ties. The majority of visitors from Romania belong to higher income and education brackets, stay in 3- or 4-star hotels, prefer to travel with their families and mostly by road. 

Based on Bank of Greece data and INSETE insights, 73 percent of all travel receipts generated by Romanian travelers concern road tourism. Favorite destinations are those accessible by road including Thasos, Pieria, Halkidiki, Kavala, Lefkada, and Evia.

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) President Grigoris Tasios, and Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies’ (HATTA) President Nikos Kelaiditis are accompanying Minister Theoharis to Romania.