Greece, Saudi Arabia Agree to Renew Tourism Agreement

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni with her Saudi Arabian counterpart, Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb, at the Saudi Arabian stand at ITB Berlin.

Greece and Saudi Arabia have agreed to renew their commitment to collaborate on activities related to tourism.

Olga Kefalogianni (center) with Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb and Saudi Haifa bint Muhammad Al Saud at the Greek stand at ITB Berlin.

The agreement took place during a meeting between Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, her Saudi Arabian counterpart, Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb, and Saudi Arabia’s deputy tourism minister, Haifa bint Muhammad Al Saud on the sidelines of the ITB Berlin 2024 expo that recently took place in Germany.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to renew a tourism cooperation agreement that was first signed in 2014.

Discussions during the meeting focused on investments in the tourism sector, increasing direct flights between the two countries, and on staff training.

“Greece is a strategic partner of Saudi Arabia in the shift it is making towards tourism,” Minister Kefalogianni said.

Tourism is one of the focuses of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, a government program launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, socially and culturally.

Kefalogianni highlighted that Greece seeks to strengthen tourism with Saudi Arabia initially by increasing direct air connections but also with a specific, long-term, investment plan.