Greece Presents Tourism Strategy at Malta Ministers’ Summit

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Sustainability, diversification, modernized tourism training options and integrating new tools for promotion are the key priorities of the Greek Tourism Ministry for the upcoming period, said Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni during the Mediterranean Tourism Forum held in Valletta, Malta this week.

Kefalogianni said the ministry’s strategy was aimed at improving the sector’s competitiveness, preparing the new generation of tourism professionals, and tapping into new tools.

She went on to add that the tourism sector in Greece has not only remained resilient in times of crisis but also managed to increase arrivals and revenues achieving in 2023 to surpass record pre-Covid 2019 levels.

The focus of tourism development, said Kefalogianni, is achieving balance and ensuring that economic benefits, protection of the environment and cultural heritage, social cohesion and protection of the identity of communities go hand in hand.

The minister went on to refer to the importance of the Mediterranean Coastal and Maritime Tourism Observatory, inviting all countries to participate in the formulation of best practices for the governance and management of sustainable tourism development in the coastal and island destinations of the Mediterranean as well as the exchange of data and know-how between Mediterranean countries.

Malta declaration signed

Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

During the summit, Greece was one of nine countries – Malta, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Libya, Italy, Palestine, Spain – to sign a declaration under which it commits to promoting responsible tourism, taking actions towards sustainable tourism development and using innovative digital technologies that will help keep the wider region competitive.

On the sidelines of the summit, Kefalogianni met with Malta Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo for the finalization of a memorandum of cooperation in tourism between Greece and Malta.