Foreign Travel Bloggers Learn All About Halkidiki in Northern Greece

Vineyard tour in Halkidiki. Photo source: HTO.

A group of influential foreign travel bloggers and media professionals from Ireland, Latvia and The Netherlands recently explored Halkidiki in Northern Greece and discovered all it has to offer to visitors.

Aiming to promote the region as a holiday destination, the Halkidiki Tourism Organization (HTO) organized three press trips in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) UK & Ireland branch, the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB), the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (ΤΤΟ) Air Baltic Airlines and the Dutch online portal Griekenland.net.

According to the HTO, the first trip held for Irish journalists continued the successful promotional efforts to the market of Ireland that began in 2019 with the introduction of direct flights from Dublin to Thessaloniki International Airport.

Photo source: HTO.

During the trip, the Irish press group visited the traditional settlement of Nikiti, explored the most popular beaches of Halkidiki, took a cruise around the World Heritage Site of Mount Athos, and visited an organic agricultural plant. The bloggers also indulged in a culinary experience and tasted Halkidiki’s wines, local products, and unique recipes.

In the same period, the HTO organized a press trip for Latvian influencer Marita Dinsberga and a photographer from Riga. This marked the first press trip aimed at promoting Halkidiki in the Baltic countries, following the establishment of a direct connection between Riga and Thessaloniki International Airport. The aim of the trip was to increase the destination’s appeal in accordance to HTO’s strategy to expand and tap into new markets.

Photo source: HTO.

Moreover, a journalist and a photographer from Dutch online portal Griekenland.net, which also publishes the renowned KALA Magazine specializing in holidays in Greece, were hosted in Halkidiki.

Griekenland.net’s representatives took a road trip and explored the destination’s both well-known and hidden areas.

Their journey began on Holomontas mountain and on to traditional settlements in the Polygyros and Aristotle municipalities. The trip then continued to the only inhabitable island in Central Macedonia, Ammouliani, which is gaining popularity among independent travelers.

Crise around Mt. Athos. Photo source: HTO.

Continuing through Sithonia, the bloggers experienced the exotic beaches and traditional settlements of the area, indulging in water activities and immersing themselves in the cosmopolitan ambiance of the area of Kassandra. The journey concluded with visits to agro-food units in the Municipality of Nea Propontis, providing insight into the region’s primary resources and local products.

According to the HTO, the press trips are part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to attract international visitors to Halkidiki and showcase the destination’s beauty and potential. By collaborating with influential travel bloggers and media professionals, the HTO aims to promote Halkidiki’s unique offerings and attract travelers from diverse markets.