Greece Sees Opportunity in Sustainable Tourism Products

GNTO President Angela Gerekou

A key priority for Greece is to achieve a “top of mind” brand name by offering the very best in sustainable tourism options, said Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) President Angela Gerekou during the 5th Tourism Conference in Northern Greece this week.

Addressing the event, Gerekou said tapping into sustainable tourism practices was an opportunity for Greece to establish itself as a frontrunner especially in the post-Covid era with the creation of a new tourism model meeting new demands. 

“Undeniably, our goal is to go from a country that breaks all records in arrivals to a top of mind destination for quality tourism,” she said.

“Sustainable, accessible, thematic, low-impact tourism are a big bet and a great opportunity for the country and especially for Northern Greece, which has great comparative advantages,” said Gerekou, adding that millennials and higher income travelers reward sustainable destinations and are willing to pay more. 

Photo: GTP

Lastly, Gerekou said it was vital to successfully link the sustainable economy of hospitality with the Greek Diet and culture so as to establish Greece into a global, sustainable cultural tourism destination.

She said it was a GNTO priority to integrate the ancient Greek philosophy of “Ev Zin” (the quality of harmonious living) into the country’s tourism products.

“Translated into our daily lives, ‘Ev Zin’ is all about proper nutrition, sports ideals and exercise ideally close to nature, rejuvenating treatments in our seas and hot springs, entertainment, positive psychology, cultivating the spirit, respect for the environment and those around us… all that the modern visitor needs,” she said adding, “or in other words: All you want is Greece”.

The 5th Tourism Conference was jointly organized by the Greek-American, Greek-French, Greek-German chambers of commerce and the Greek-Italian Chamber of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Central Macedonia Region, at the TIF – Helexpo exhibition center.