Film Tourism: GNTO and EKOME Boost Cooperation for Greece’s Promotion

ΕΚΟΜE President Leonidas Christopoulos with GNTO President Angela Gerekou. Photo source: GNTO

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and the National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) recently renewed a memorandum of cooperation aiming for the international promotion of Greece through TV and movie productions.

The memorandum of cooperation was originally signed in January when the two bodies agreed to work together for the promotion of domestic film productions and tourism offerings.

GNTO President Angela Gerekou and ΕΚΟΜE President Leonidas Christopoulos last week decided to take the cooperation further during a meeting at the organization’s headquarters in Athens.

A foreign production crew films in Thessaloniki, September 2020. Photo source: Region of Central Macedonia

During the meeting, Gerekou referred to research by Expedia group, according to which, movies and TV shows are the number one source of inspiration for travel, especially in the US market.

“These productions even surpass the influence of social media, while TV series in particular are considered equivalent to vacation spot recommendations from friends and family,” GNTO’s president said.

Moreover, the GNTO and EKOME examined the possibilities for further synergies with other bodies to strengthen the audiovisual sector and therefore the promotion of the country through it.

Gerekou and Christopoulos also agreed to continue joint actions to promote tourism, culture and the domestic audiovisual production sector.

EKOME promotes Greece in FOCUS 2023 expo

Earlier this month, EKOME took part in this year’s international gathering of audiovisual production companies and professionals, Focus Meet the makers, at London’s Business Design Center.

The Greek stand, organized in common by EKOME and the Greek Film Centre-GFC, hosted delegates of the Central Macedonia Region, the Region of Epirus Film Office and the City of Thessaloniki Film Commission.

During the exhibition, the Greek delegates had b2b meetings with professionals of the audiovisual industry, who were informed to-the-point about the competitive funding tools of 40 percent cash rebate and 30 percent tax relief, as well as all the comparative advantages, which render Greece an ideal destination for audiovisual productions.