Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism on Ministry’s Agenda

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni with Greek-Japanese Association Yasuyoshi Karasawa (left) and Japan’s Ambassador to Greece Nakayama Yasunori (right). Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni on Monday discussed actions that Greece and Japan can jointly take for the “Year of Culture and Tourism” initiative scheduled to run next year,

Announced in August, the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” is a joint initiative agreed by the governments of both countries. The initiative aims to promote cultural and tourism exchanges between Greece and Japan through a series of events.

Discussions were held at the tourism ministry during a meeting held between Kefalogianni, the new president of the Greek-Japanese Association, Yasuyoshi Karasawa, and Japan’s Ambassador to Greece Nakayama Yasunori. Established in Athens in 1956, the association is nonprofit.

The strengthening of relations between Greece and Japan topped the discussion with Kefalogianni and Karasawa agreeing to find ways to strengthen tourist flows from and to Japan. The two sides discussed the possibility of launching joint actions so efforts would meet the profile of Japanese tourists.

Kefalogianni and Karasawa then discussed plans of the two countries for the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism 2024”.

Crowds at a temple in Japan.

According to the ministry. the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” events are expected to further enhance the cultural ties between the two countries and strengthen their bilateral relations.

Scheduled to take place in Greece and Japan, the “Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” will see a number of events organized across various cities in both countries. Events will include archaeological exhibitions, film festivals, theater performances, concerts, and culinary showcase and workshops.

The initiative, among other things, includes Japan’s participation in the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum to be held June 3-7 next year in Athens.

The Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism 2024 initiative was announced by both countries during Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Japan last January.