EEA Looks to Attract More Tourists to Athens to Boost Shopping Tourism

Monastiraki, Athens. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

An increase in tourist arrivals can contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in the Greek capital and boost sales in the city’s shops, according to the Athens Chamber of Tradesmen (EEA).

In a recent meeting with Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, EEA President Yiannis Hatzitheodosiou informed on the chamber’s initiatives that aim to increase tourism in Athens and strengthen the city’s businesses.

‘Sound & Light’ event to return

According to Hatzitheodosiou, the chamber intends to revive the “Sound & Light” initiative, a historical audiovisual event connected with the Greek capital’s city center and especially with the area of Thisio. The new “Sound & Light” event would revive under a new philosophy in the area of Plaka – Monastiraki, inside the Ancient Roman Agora. The event’s revival will be in cooperation with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

EEA’s president said the revamped “Sound & Light” event will be part of “Agora Athens”, another initiative of the chamber that looks to boost business for shops in the historical commercial center of Athens by increasing the number of foreign visitors.

The Greek tourism minister showed high interest in the “Agora Athens” concept and agreed to cooperate with the chamber to explore actions to further help the development of local shops.

Moreover, during the meeting, Hatzitheodosiou and Kefalogianni discussed highlighting specific historical monuments to attract more visitors.

According to EEA, the chamber’s main goal is to make Athens a tourist destination for even more visitors and to use the increased tourist traffic for the benefit of businesses as well.

“Through innovative actions, EEA, in partnership with the Tourism Ministry, is aiming to introduce Greek hospitality to every visitor in the historic center of Athens, thus contributing positively to the development of local entrepreneurship,” an announcement by the ministry said.

The meeting was also attended by EEA’s vice presidents, Nikos Grendzelos and Nikos Kogoumtsis.