Greece Strengthens Tourism Ties with Switzerland and Albania

Meeting with Olga Kefalogianni and Stefan Estermann, Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Enhancing relations with a focus on tourism topped the agenda of meetings last week between Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and the ambassadors of Switzerland and Albania.

Kefalogianni and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Greece, Stefan Estermann agreed to work to together to design a plan of joint initiatives focusing on sustainable tourism, the exchange of knowhow, and the introduction of good practices in tourism education.

Olga Kefalogianni and Stefan Estermann, Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Kefalogianni also met with the Ambassador of Albania to Greece, Luela Hajdaraga. The two sides agreed to cooperate in the field of tourism and to further strengthen ties. Among others, Hajdaraga referred to Albania’s growing tourism industry and said the country wished to draw from Greece’s expertise in the field, but also to proceed with cooperation on sustainability issues, alternative forms of tourism, and the development of joint tourism packages aimed at remote markets.

Greece and Albania are already working together under a bilateral cooperation agreement (1999) in tourism and also signed a Joint Action Plan in tourism for the period 2023-2026. Under the plan, a working meeting of representatives from both countries will be held in the upcoming period ahead of Kefalogianni’s visit to Tirana.

Olga Kefalogianni and Luela Hajdaraga, Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Lastly, Hajdaraga extended an invitation to Kefalogianni by Albanian Tourism Minister Mirela Kumbaro to the 70th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe, which will be held in Tirana on April 7-9.

In 2022 , Air Albania  operated  four weekly flights between Athens and Tirana.