During her meeting with the Japanese Minister of Planning, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Mr. Tetsuo Saito, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Olga Kefalogiannis, referred to the favourable situation for relations between Greece and Japan.  

  Mrs Olga Kefalogianni highlighted the upgrading of bilateral relations after the signing of a joint declaration during the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Japan in January 2023, stressing: “Relations between our two countries have made a qualitative leap after the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Japan. A visit which was the springboard for upgrading them at a strategic level. Their upgrading has opened a new chapter in Greek-Japanese friendship and cooperation.”
The Minister of Tourism referred to the participation of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the international tourism exhibition “Tourism Expo Japan 2024”, in which Greece is the country of honour. In turn, Mr. Saito referred to the current Year of Culture and Tourism between Greece and Japan and stressed that it is a great honour for the Minister of Tourism of Greece to visit Japan on this occasion.
The Japanese Minister noted the strong will to increase tourism flows to Greece and stated that the Japanese government looks forward to closer relations with Greece.
“The two countries are united by the concept of insularity, which is also related to the concepts of the law of the sea and respect for international treaties”, Mrs Kefalogianni stressed, adding that in the tourism sector, the agreement signed between the two countries should be activated in order to work together to increase tourism flows on both sides.
“A basic prerequisite for this is the launch of direct flights, a move that will facilitate and give the opportunity to Greeks and Japanese to visit the two countries”    Mr. Saito positively addressed the possibility of direct flights, adding that this is the period when the extroversion of Japanese airlines begins.
Mrs. Kefalogianni informed the Japanese Minister about the investment opportunities offered by Greece both in tourism and other productive sectors.
Referring to the Memorandum of Cooperation between Greece and Japan in tourism, she proposed to hold a business forum on tourism in Greece in order to create synergies between businesses on both sides, a proposal to which the Japanese Minister responded.
Mrs Kefalogianni pointed out that the two countries can cooperate and share practices on the issue of sustainability and green tourism.
The Minister presented and donated to her counterpart the special edition of the book “Travelling in Japan” by Nikos Kazantzakis.
The scope for further development and deepening of cooperation between Greece and Japan in the field of tourism was discussed by the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Olga Kefalogianni, speaking to the members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Greece-Japan.
Mrs Olga Kefalogianni stressed that the two countries share common values and ideals in the international arena, among which respect for international law, democracy, the rule of law and human rights are paramount.
Outlining the relations and ties between the two countries, he cited specific examples of businesses operating on both sides as well as the ever-increasing volume of bilateral trade.
Mrs Olga Kefalogianni made a special reference to the cultural events organised in the framework of the Year of Culture and Tourism 2024 between Greece and Japan, which, she said, undoubtedly contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between the peoples.
He added: “In the tourism sector, the potential for cooperation is unlimited. The main objectives are, of course, to increase tourism flows on both sides and to boost investment activity. An important factor in achieving these objectives is the restoration of direct air links between the two countries, which will significantly boost both tourist flows and investment interest.”
Earlier today, the Minister of Tourism met with representatives of the Japan-Greece Society.
Mrs Kefalogianni thanked the President of the Association, Mr Yasuyoshi Karasawa, as well as its members for their unreserved support to Greece. The Minister of Tourism referred to the cultural values that unite the two peoples, the business relations in the shipping sector and the dynamics that these can develop, while also highlighting the great investment opportunities in Greece in the field of tourism, infrastructure and technology.