Greece Inaugurates New Office of National Tourism Board in Istanbul

The Greek Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni and the President of TÜRSAB Firuz Bağlıkaya (center) with ministry and GNTO representatives.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni inaugurated this week a new branch of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in Istanbul, Turkey.

The GNTO office, which had opened its doors in 2014, is located in the historic Pera district (today known as Beyoğlu).

Addressing the event, Kefalogianni referred to the strong ties between Turkey and Greece, adding that both countries had a common goal: sustainable tourism development that respects local communities.

Olga Kefalogianni inaugurating the new GNTO’s branch.

“We are here today to mark a new beginning. Our main strategic goal as far as Greek tourism is concerned is to make it sustainable; to extend the tourist season and to distribute incoming tourism to every corner of the country, ensuring tourism development for all with respect to the environment and to local communities,” she said. “The Turkish side also shares this goal and this is one of the common elements of our tourism policies which is of mutual benefit.”

During her visit to Istanbul this week, Kefalogianni also met with Turkish tourism stakeholders with whom she discussed ways to boost tourist flows between the two countries as well as with members of the Association of Turkish Travel Agents (TURSAB) as part of the bilateral tourism cooperation agreed between the two countries following the Greece-Turkey Cooperation Summit held in Athens last December and the joint declaration on tourism signed with her Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

Fast-track visa program to begin in March

Among others, the Greek tourism minister also underlined the importance of reinstating the fast-track visa program, which enables Turkish citizens to visit the Eastern Aegean Greek islands of Kalymnos, Limnos, Leros, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastelorizo all year round for seven days and can be renewed.

Kefalogianni announced that the fast-track visa issue will cost 60 euros, “30 euros less than the typical visa, which will increase to 90 euros in 2024″.

The fast-track visa program announced by Prime Minster Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a historic meeting in Athens with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will begin in March.

Referring to the fast-track visa initiative, Kefalogianni said she expected it would contribute “decisively” to the increase of tourist flows for both countries.

Bilateral cooperation in tourism with Turkey is of particular importance, as it also serves as a “bridge of friendship and trust”, she said, adding that it also contributes to the creation of a positive climate and good neighborly relations.

Pilgrimage and religious tourism

Olga Kefalogianni with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

During her visit to Turkey, Kefalogianni also met with the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Greeks, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to discuss ways to further develop pilgrimage and religious tourism and was given a tour of the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The minister said that tourist flows between the two countries had increased to over 1 million before the pandemic.