Hellenic Hoteliers Federation Promotes Greece’s Alternative Tourism Side at ITB Berlin

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation Public Relations Director Angelos Kallias presenting the alternative forms of tourism that travelers can find in mainland Greece. Photo source: Hellenic Hoteliers Federation

The Hellenic Hoteliers Federation at ITB Berlin promoted Greece as a global and attractive year round destination offering unique and authentic travel experiences through alternative tourism forms.

With the slogan “Open for Change”, the world’s leading travel trade show ITB Berlin opened its doors on Tuesday for the first time after a three-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s important to take advantage of the moment and introduce the ‘other side’ of Greece to the traveling public through the promotion of tourism forms in the country’s regions,” Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios said.

With early bookings for travel to Greece this season on an upward trend, Greek hoteliers took a step further from the “sun and sea” model and promoted the country’s alternative forms of tourism, wanting this way to get the message across that the country is “open” all four seasons and this way extend the season.

Greek hoteliers, during the three day expo, promoted tourism forms that that can offer visitors unique hospitality moments and experiences in Greece – not only in summer, but also in spring, autumn and winter.

“As a country we have rare natural beauties, mountains, lakes and forests, great architecture, excellent culinary tradition and unique monuments of history and culture that can act as a magnet to attract visitors in the winter months,” Tasios said.

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios speaking at the Greek stand during an event held to promote Greece’s alternative forms of tourism. Photo source: Hellenic Hoteliers Federation

During ITB, Tasios took part in an event focused on the promotion of Greece’s alternative tourism forms to international tourism professionals and journalists from a number of countries.

Organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) branch in Germany and supported by the tourism ministry’s Secretary General of Tourism Policy & Development, Olympia Anastasopoulou, the event was held at Greece’s revamped stand.

During the event, Hellenic Hoteliers Federation Public Relations Director Angelos Kallias presented in detail all of the alternative and sustainable forms of tourism (skiing, hiking, river activities, cycling, climbing, paragliding, gastronomy – agritourism, wine tourism, etc.) that are being developed in mainland Greece.

The federation aimed to introduce the enormous potential of Greece’s mountainous and countryside destinations to the German travel market, whose customers are travelers mainly interested in Greece as a “sun and sea” destination.

The tourism ministry’s Secretary General of Tourism Policy & Development, Olympia Anastasopoulou,a dn Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios at the event at the Greek stand. Photo source: Hellenic Hoteliers Federation

It is noted that Greek Secretary General of Tourism Policy & Development, Olympia Anastasopoulou, GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis and Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios were the only Greek officials to attend the ITB Berlin expo this year.

ITB Berlin, which wrapped up on Thursday, took place for the first time as an event for B2B visitors only.