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Philoxenia has contributed to the tourism development of our country over the years and especially has given a nudge to tourism in Northern Greece. This is a reference point for us, an opportunity for the promotion of our tourist product, a meeting place for professionals.

Almost a year ago we were expressing our concern for the dark clouds that had begun to form over the horizons of Greek tourism.

Greece is a distinguished international tourism destination that -despite the country’s extremely difficult financial situation- has a major tourist product to show that still maintains quantitative characteristics and constantly upgrades the quality of its services.

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries. In Greece, tourism is the sector with the greatest prospects for development, a unique opportunity for our generation.

Two exhibitions and two conferences on tourism indicate the intention of HELEXPO’s administration to support the most important and promising sector of the Greek economy. While Greece is looking for an exit out of the crisis and for new development prospects, especially in the southeastern Mediterranean, the role of this year’s 26th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia is considered extremely important. The years of HELEXPO’s experience are a huge advantage, but also a guarantee for exhibitors.

It is a pleasure for me to draft these very lines for one of the most prominent tourism publications in Greece, the Greek Travel Pages. As we all know, these are challenging times for Greece and our tourism. For our touristic product relies on three core elements: people, accommodation and transportation. Direct dependency on fluctuations of these variables, traditionally converts tourism into a sensitive sector for the economy.

The 26th consecutive organization of the Philoxenia exhibition emphasizes the potential of tourism that is continuously growing worldwide.

The 26th International Tourism Exhibition “Philoxenia” coincides with the renewed efforts of Greece to make tourism the pivotal axis around which the Greek economy will recover from the recession.

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) announced last month its new Board of Directors following the resignation of Argyro Fili from the association’s presidency due to personal reasons.

“It’s clear that Greek economy needs tourism—one of the most important industries in Greece—to grow,” Eva Karamanou, general director of Amadeus Hellas, told GTP. The Greek tourism industry is currently under tremendous pressure in regards to the economic crisis and competition from other countries and, according to Amadeus Hellas, what is necessary right now are “efforts from all parties involved.”