Greece Among Top 5 European Destinations for Chinese Tourists, Says New Ambassador

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni with the Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Greece continues to rank as one of the top five most popular European destinations for Chinese tourists, according to Fang Qiu, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Greece.

In a meeting on Tuesday with Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni in Athens, the ambassador highlighted the importance of further strengthening tourism cooperation between the two nations.

A key focus of the discussion was the promotion of niche tourism sectors, such as cultural and wedding tourism, as well as introducing lesser-known Greek destinations that could appeal to younger Chinese travelers and the broader Chinese market.

Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Ambassador Qiu highlighted that Greece’s image in China is closely linked to its beauty and rich cultural heritage, reinforcing its position as a top destination. He also noted that many Chinese couples choose to hold their weddings on the Greek islands in the Aegean, often referred to in China as the “sea of love”.

The conversation also touched upon the organization of the High-Level Conference on Tourism Cooperation, which will take place in Greece later this year. This event, part of the 14+1 initiative (a collaboration between Central and Eastern European countries and China), will further enhance bilateral tourism ties. The ambassador reiterated China’s full support for the conference.

Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Additionally, Minister Kefalogianni and Ambassador Qiu explored the possibility of expanding air connectivity between China and Greece, with a focus on increasing direct flights to popular tourist destinations beyond the current routes connecting Athens with Beijing and Shanghai.