Greece and Tourism Body GNTO Shine at Grand Travel Awards 2024 in Norway

Greece and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) shined at this year’s Grand Travel Awards (GTA) held earlier this month in Oslo, Norway.

For the second year running, Greece was named Norway’s Best Tourism Destination while the GNTO’s Scandinavian branch once again won the title of Best Foreign Tourism Office of the year.

Running for 26 consecutive years, the Grand Travel Awards are organized by Reis magazine, one Scandinavia’s best travel publications, and its website Travel News, which operates in Norway and Sweden. The GTA event is considered the most important annual meeting of the local tourism industry.

Konstantinos Danassis, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Greek Embassy in Oslo, and Maria Zevgoula from the GNTO’s office in Scandinavia attended the event and received the two awards.

GNTO at Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo 2024 tourism trade fair

Greece’s popularity among Norwegian travelers was also confirmed at Norway’s international tourism and travel trade fair Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo 2024, held January 13-14, at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway, according to the GNTO.

The Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo targets the trade public and showcases the latest trends in the tourism, travel, catering and hospitality industries.

Representing Greece, the GNTO participated in the trade fair with a stand and co-exhibitors including the Region of Crete-Regional Unit of Chania and the Region of Central Macedonia.

The GNTO highlighted that visitors to the fair showed a great interest in Greece and especially for its gastronomy and alternative tourism destinations that combine nature and easy access to the sea.

“Greece is one of the most favorite tourism destinations of Norwegians with a high rate of repeat visitors, especially from the 50+ age group who make trips four times on average, are of a high income level and appreciate the country’s cultural wealth, authentic natural environment and Greek cuisine,” the GNTO said in an announcement.

During the Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo 2024 exhibition, the GNTO held meetings with representatives from ANTOR Norway, a network of national tourist offices and embassies, and Norwegian travel magazines such as Reis and Pensjonisten.

The Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo 2024 saw the attendance of 166 exhibitors from all over the world, including travel agencies and representatives of state tourism organizations, mainly from countries outside Europe. According to organizers K2Marketing AS, the Reiselivsmessen/Travelxpo attracted some 10,000 visitors.