Crete’s Hospitality, Tourism Introduced to Target Markets via Fam Trips

Photo source: Crete Region.

Crete recently played host to groups of journalists, travel bloggers, and media professionals in an effort to promote the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage to the British, Belgian, and Serbian markets.

As part of the Crete Region’s “Tourism Promotion Program 2023,” these press trips were organized with the aim of showcasing Crete’s alternative tourism offerings and unique experiences.

Belgian TV Show “Married at First Sight” Shines Light on Crete’s Wedding Tourism

Photo source: Crete Region.

One of the highlights of these efforts was aimed at promoting wedding tourism on the island. It was organized by the Region in collaboration with the Dutch branch of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). During this trip, the hosts of the TV show and their team of journalists and producers filmed at multiple locations to showcase Crete to young couples and newlyweds.

The Belgian team also took a boat trip to the picturesque bay of Merampelos and attended a workshop on herbal cosmetics production in Agios Nikolaos.

“Married at First Sight” has a viewership of 1.16 million, and Crete will be featured in three episodes of the show, each lasting 22 minutes.

UK Travel Bloggers Explore Crete’s Diverse Offerings

Photo source: Crete Region.

The Crete Region partnered with Jet2Holidays, the largest travel agency in the second-largest tourist market on the island, to host four travel bloggers from the United Kingdom. This familiarization trip took place in Heraklion and Lasithi, providing the bloggers with an itinerary of unique experiences.

Their program included visits to renowned archaeological sites, outdoor activities, agro-tourism ventures such as bee-keeping, and participation in activities like olive oil and wine tastings, pottery-making, visits to traditional villages, and the opportunity to taste the local cuisine.

In addition to these activities, Crete also became the backdrop for the popular Serbian TV show “Kitchen TV.”

Photo source: GNTO.

Kyriakos Kotsoglou, Deputy Head of Tourism & e-Government at the Crete Region, expressed his optimism, saying, “Our press trip guests will not only become Crete’s ambassadors around the world, but they will also spread the message of Crete’s unique hospitality.”

He added, “It’s like what travelers have said in the past, ‘Cretans gather their food and offer it to thank their guests. Families may deprive themselves of anything to offer the best to their guests. These celebrations allow Cretans to present their products to their guests while showing their pride—a profound tradition of hospitality, unknown to Western standards.'”