Greek Professional Congress Organizers Call for National Body to Boost Conference Tourism

Photo source: ADDMA

Greek professional congress organizers (PCOs) are advocating for the establishment of a national entity dedicated to the development and promotion of conference tourism in Greece.

The call for action was raised during a roundtable discussion organized by the Greek Meetings Alliance (GMA) at the 39th Philoxenia tourism fair in Thessaloniki.

Founded in 2022, the GMA is a collaborative initiative between the  Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers & Destinations Events Specialists (HAPCO & DES), the This is Athens – Convention & Visitors Bureau (operating under the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency, ADDMA), and the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB).

Greece’s Position in the global MICE industry

Photo source: ADDMA

During the discussion, representatives from the convention bureaus of Athens and Thessaloniki outlined their strategic efforts and the positive results these have had in positioning Greece as a top destination for international conferences and events.

However, they also pointed out that Greece lags behind other European countries in the number of convention bureaus. For instance, Spain has 62, Germany 28, Italy 18, and Portugal 8, while Greece only has two: in Athens and Thessaloniki. Additionally, most European countries have a National Convention Bureau, a resource Greece currently lacks.

Economic impact of MICE tourism

Maria Papadopoulou, representing the This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau, highlighted the significant financial impact of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism on local economies. She emphasized how MICE tourism not only creates jobs but also helps reduce seasonality in the tourism sector.

Papadopoulou shared that Athens ranks 11th in Europe and 15th globally as a MICE destination, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings.

On his part, Thessaloniki Convention Bureau General Director Dimitris Ganitis noted that Thessaloniki holds a strong position as well, ranking 26th in Europe and 42nd globally, ahead of cities such as Munich, Valencia, Belgrade, Tallinn, and Zagreb.

The need for a national convention bureau

Photo source: ADDMA

HAPCO & DES General Secretary Antonia Alexandrou stressed the essential role of convention and visitors bureaus in securing and managing international conferences effectively.

Representatives of regional organizations, such as Grigoris Tasios, president of the Halkidiki Tourism Organization, and Stelios Ouzas, member of the Pieria Tourist Development Organization, voiced their support for the creation of a national entity that would align efforts and promote Greece as a competitive destination for conference tourism.

The roundtable was attended by Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti, along with the Deputy Governors of Central Macedonia, Vicky Hatzivasiliou and Nikolaos Tzolas, who also expressed their commitment to supporting this initiative.