Greece’s GNTO-EKOME Agree to Promote Tourism, Domestic Film Production

Filming Netflix’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in Greece. Photo source: @Rianjohnson

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and the National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) have agreed to work together for the promotion of domestic film productions and tourism offerings.

In this direction, GNTO President Angela Gerekou and ΕΚΟΜE President and CEO Panos Kouanis signed a memorandum of cooperation which includes the design and implementation of joint promotional initiatives, showcasing Greece’s tourism options and locally-produced audio-visual projects to targeted markets and exhibitions as well as the development of a marketing plan aimed at establishing Greece as an attractive destination to invest in the audio-visual production industry.

Gerekou expressed her satisfaction with the agreement to promote tourism, culture and domestic audiovisual productions, adding that “cinema and especially international productions can be a dynamic tool to showcase Greece”.

The MoC also foresees the exchange of consulting services and support as well as jointly organizing conferences and workshops.

GNTO President Angela Gerekou and ΕΚΟΜE President and CEO Panos Kouanis. Photo source: Visit Greece.

“Joining of forces and the exchange of know-how will give further momentum brandname Greece, promoting the Greek tourism product to the top positions internationally through the audio-visual production process as well,” said Kouanis.

In December, EKOME teamed up with state-run investment and trade promotion agency Enterprise Greece to take actions aimed at attracting more investments in audiovisual and film projects and promoting Greece globally as a prime production and tourism destination.

In 2020, the Greek government announced that it would be increasing a cash rebate for film productions made in Greece from 35 percent to 40 percent in efforts to enhance the country’s position as an attractive filming destination and bring in investors. Since then, dozens of international films have been shot in Greece, establishing the country as a leading filming destination.