Greece and Turkey Sign Accord for Joint Actions in Tourism

Greece and Turkey agreed to strengthen ties through cooperation in tourism with the aim of increasing tourist flows between the two countries, announced the Greek Tourism Ministry this week.

More specifically, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and her Turkish counterpart Mehmet Nuri Ersoy signed a joint declaration to further promote cooperation between the two countries in tourism on the sidelines of the 5th meeting of the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council. Ersoy was in Athens on Thursday accompanying Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a historic visit to Greece.

The agreement follows the announcement on Thursday that Greece would be issuing a 7-day fast-track visa to Turkish nationals wishing to visit 10 Greek islands in the Eastern Aegean.

Among others, the accord foresees joint actions to restore tourist flows to pre-pandemic 2019 levels and to address challenges such as climate change as well as expanding cooperation in areas such as tourism sustainability, “green” tourism, digitization in the tourism sector, tourism investments and tourism training.

The ministry said the meeting was held in a “friendly atmosphere” with both sides agreeing that bilateral cooperation in tourism should be governed by mutual trust and understanding.

Kefalogiani said tourist flows between the two countries can stimulate local economies and support residents.

Under the agreement signed this week, Turkish citizens will be able all year round for seven days to visit the Greek islands of Kalymnos, Limnos, Leros, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastelorizo with a fast-track visa.