The need to create a new model of tourism based on the principles of sustainability was stressed by the President, Angela Gerekou, and Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, Dimitris Fragakis, speaking yesterday at a special meeting in the framework of the ECTAA (European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations) semi-annual conference, held in Athens.
Snapshot of yesterday’s meeting.
Pictured, from left, the President of HATTA, Nicholas Kelaiditis, the President of FedHATTA, Lysander Tsilidis,
the Secretary General of the Greek Tourism Organisation, Dimitris Fragakis, the President of ECTAA, Frank Oostdam and the President of the Greek Tourism Organisation, A. Gerekou.
In cooperation with the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) and on the subject of sustainable practices to be adopted in the tourism sector, in the light of the climate crisis affecting Greece, a meeting was held with the participation of representatives of ECTAA, FedHATTA (Federation of Greek Associations of Travel and Tourism Agencies) and HATTA (Association of Greek Tourist and Travel Agencies),
The President of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, A. Gerekou, recalled the actions undertaken in Greece in the direction of sustainability and sustainability, referring to the special programmes underway in Tilos, Astypalaia, Rhodes, as well as the 250 beaches throughout the country that are fully accessible.
The president of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, A. Gerekou, on the floor of the meeting.
“A sustainable destination must first of all be an ethical destination. Themodern traveller appreciates destinations with ethical values, such as tolerance of diversity and the inclusion of sensitive social groups, especially people with disabilities,“ said the President of EOT.
At the same time, citing findings of recent surveys, she stressed that until 2030 an annual increase of 11% is predicted for luxury tourism in Greece, at a time when the new trend of eco-luxury is emerging. “Greece is responding to this trend, with an increasing number of eco-friendly luxury hotels and resorts offering truly sustainable experiences,” he said.
Finally, she expressed her certainty that the Greek and European tourism stakeholders will create a tourism model based on quality, sustainability and respect for the environment and the culture of local communities, which will offer benefits to all stakeholders and will transform the visitors’ journey into a meaningful and unforgettable experience.
The General Secretary of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, D. Fragakis, addresses the members of ECTAA, FedHATTA and HATTA.
For his part, Dimitris Fragakis, Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism and the GNTO are focusing on the effort to extend the tourist season and the diffusion of tourist flows in space and time, in the direction of the sustainable development of Greek tourism.
He also referred to the extroversion strategy followed by Greek tourism, especially during the last four years in cooperation with ECTAA, reaping benefits in every aspect of the tourism product.
“ECTAA is a strategic partner of the Greek National Tourism Organisation for the promotion of Greece abroad. We have a long-standing and stable cooperation and I am glad that once again its annual meeting is held in Athens. I believe in the power of travel agencies and their experienced people, who have been building trusting relationships with their clients for years all over Europe. They are valuable partners for us and we will continue our joint effort in the coming period. In fact, we are discussing holding the first global tour operator conference in Greece in 2024! It will be a great opportunity to promote Greece around the world and we look forward to this cooperation.” he stressed.
