Greece and Japan Boost Cooperation in Tourism

Japanese Ambassador to Greece Nakayama Yasunori with Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Greece and Japan have agreed to take relations a step further and boost cooperation in tourism on occasion of the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” in 2024.

In this direction, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni met with Japan’s Ambassador to Greece Nakayama Yasunori to discuss ways the two countries can increase tourist flows.

Kefalogianni said the decision to strengthen ties comes as part of a new phase of bilateral cooperation marked by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Tokyo in January and the finalization of a joint declaration of strategic cooperation.

The meeting between the two officials. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Ambassador Yasunori underlined the importance of the collaboration in tourism and of the implementation of activities connected with the launch of the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism 2024”, which includes Japan’s participation in the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum next year.

Japan’s tourism body is looking forward to increasing tourism flows to the country and restoring them to pre-pandemic levels, he said.

Kefalogianni stressed the importance of targeted cooperation between private and public sectors in tourism so as to ensure the largest possible reach in addition to the adaptation of Greece’s tourism products to the needs and interests of the Japanese market. She said travelers from Japan are more interested in cultural, culinary and wine tourism.

Earlier this week Kefalogianni also met with ambassadors of Australia and Mongolia.