Greece – France Cooperation Tops IFTM Top Resa Agenda

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni at the GNTO Pavilion in Paris IFTM exhibition .Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Best practices and ways culture can be integrated into the tourism product topped the agenda of meetings during Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni’s recent visit to Paris for the IFTM Top Resa 2023.

Among others, Kefalogianni met with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to discuss showcasing historical trails through tourism.

(L-R) UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay with Kefalogianni. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

The tourism ministry also agreed to strengthen its participation in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) sectoral committees and increase networking with the aim of drawing up policies to address contemporary challenges in tourism.

Additionally, Kefalogianni also met with counterparts from other countries to exchange views on ways to address challenges affecting tourism and to share best practices and policies aimed at further promoting sustainability.

During her meeting with French Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire, Kefalogainni discussed current tourism market trends and the upcoming Olympic Games to be hosted in Paris next August.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the IFTM Top Resa 2023 tourism exhibition in Paris. Photo source: IFTM Top Resa

During IFTM Top Resa 2023, the minister had the chance to visit dozens of exhibitors from Greece hosted at the stand of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) including regions, municipalities and private tourism and hospitality companies.

She also held meetings with local tour operators, travel events and airline executives. Among others, TUI Group said it was exploring plans to extend its tourism offerings to Greece as part of sustainability efforts.

Lastly, the minister also met with Transavia CEO Olivier Mazzucchelli and Director General Nicolas Henin, to discuss the airline’s plans to include more Greek destinations to its roster. Transavia currently offers 14 connections to Greece and 1.5 million a seats from France.