Greek Minister Announces Four-pronged Tourism Strategy

Fira, Santorini.

On the back of estimated tourism revenues to the tune of 12 billion euros in 2021, Greek Tourism Minister Vasilis Kikilias recently announced a four-pronged tourism strategy aimed at boosting the economy and stimulating growth.

In an interview to Proto Thema, Kikilias said the plan to be implemented in the immediate future focuses on the following areas:

– completing necessary infrastructure and addressing overtourism at popular destinations while ensuring the sustainable development of others. Top priorities include ensuring the quality of services offered, safeguarding the genuine tourist experience and extending the tourism season.

– setting up a crisis management mechanism that will be responsible for preventative policies and strategies as well as resources to address incidents affecting tourism

– the digitization of offered services particularly through the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) which will include making tourism services and cultural resources available in digital format to tourists and users

– lastly, the implementation of a training and advanced education program for sector professionals aimed at contributing to the upgrade of services offered. According to Proto Thema, hospitality giant Accor has expressed interest in setting up an international tourism education institute in Greece.

Greek Tourism Minister Vasilis Kikilias

It should be noted that the Greek finance ministry recently revised its growth forecasts upward to 5.9 percent for 2021 while tourism professionals are expecting revenues to reach 12 billion euros this year, generated by a welcome increase in tourism flows to Greece despite the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.