Digital Services to Enhance Greece Travel Experience

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The need to modernize tourism services through the acceleration of digitization in order for Greece’s tourism sector to remain competitive was the focus of a panel discussion during this week’s “Greek Tourism – A National Affair” held in Athens.

Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, secretary general for Information Systems and Digital Governance / Photo source: Ministry of Digital Governance

Addressing the conference organized by the Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, secretary general for Information Systems and Digital Governance, said upgraded digital services are necessary to enhance the tourist experience.

“There are two parts to the tourist experience, one before the visit and the services provided once they arrive. The GNTO’s digital transformation project has an artificial intelligence dimension which is of great importance. The project can have very good results for the promotion of the country abroad,” he said.

Among others, he referred to the EU Digital Identity Wallets, which will facilitate travel by allowing citizens to access services online, share digital documents, or prove their identity. The wallet is expected to be rolled out by 2026.

Myron Flouris, secretary general for Tourism Policy and Development of the Greek Tourism Ministry / Photo source: Ministry of Tourism

Among others, Myron Flouris, secretary general for Tourism Policy and Development of the Greek Tourism Ministry, referred to technologies and innovations being funded by RRF funds. Among these “six or seven platforms through which we will be able to inform tourists and receive information and draw very good conclusions about tourism”.

Other projects in this direction include the creation of the National Observatory for Sustainable Tourism and the first Mediterranean Coastal and Maritime Tourism Observatory.

“Technology and innovation are not a panacea. Relative to Europe, we are average in terms of digital innovation. We are not behind. We are working with Austria, which has best practices. With the absorption of the recovery fund programs and the completion of the platforms we are developing, we are doing very well. In terms of startups and spinoffs, we have made huge strides but we still have a long way to go,” he said.