Connectivity Tops Greece – Turkey Tourism Agenda

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni with Turkey’s Ambassador to Greece Cagatay Erciyes. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Ways to increase tourist flows by enhancing connectivity between the two countries topped the agenda of talks between Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Turkey’s Ambassador to Greece Cagatay Erciyes.

Kefalogianni and Erciyes met in Athens ahead of the Supreme Cooperation Council in Thessaloniki and underlined the importance of joint initiatives which aim to strengthen connectivity between the two countries.

Additionally, the two sides discussed way to update a 2001 cooperation agreement in order to facilitate public-private partnerships in tourism. Among others, Erciyes called for the reinstatement of a pilot program which simplified visa requirements for a number of Greek island ports which welcome a large number of visitors from Turkey.

Photo still from the meeting. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Kefalogiannis expressed her agreement adding that the program was to the benefit of both sides.

Greece and Turkey had also agreed to cooperate on issues of tourism in 2021 after the two countries signed a Memorandum of Cooperation during the 4th Session of the Joint Tourism Committee and the 9th Greek-Turkish Forum on Tourism.

The temporary visas issued to inbound tourists from Turkey under the pilot program and the addition of more ferry and airline routes between the two countries were discussed during that committee.