L. Tsilidis: “Culture as a Timeless Vehicle for Sustainability and Extending the Tourist Season for Greek Tourism”
The participation of the Federation of Hellenic Travel & Tourism Associations (FedHATTA) and the Association of Greek Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) at the 39th International Tourism & Hotel Equipment Exhibition, PHILOXENIA HOTELIA, which took place from November 14-16 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Conference Center, concluded with significant discussions on the further necessary connection between Greek tourism and culture, fruitful professional meetings between Greek travel agencies and their international counterparts, and the awarding of the Tourist Agencies Association of Macedonia-Thrace (ETGMT) for its contribution to solving sector issues.
FedHATTA participated with a booth that became a meeting space for both professional and institutional tourism bodies, hosting HATTA, the Tourist Agencies Association of Macedonia-Thrace (ETGMT), Panasoft (managing back-office services), and the National Bank, which offers new financial programs specifically for travel agencies.
The exhibition saw the presence of FedHATTA President, Mr. Lysandros Tsilidis, HATTA President, Mr. Nikolaos Kelaitidis, as well as numerous travel agencies from across Greece—members of the Federation’s associations—that held important meetings promoting the sector’s internationalization.
Mr. Tsilidis took part in the panel of the conference “Experience. Culture. Everywhere. – Connecting the Dots” organized by the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources (ODAP), in collaboration with TIF-HELEXPO, discussing the interconnected relationship between Tourism and Culture. Panel participants included, among others, the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism of Central Macedonia, Ms. Evridiki (Vicky) Chatzivassiliou, the Director General of the Museum of Byzantine Culture, Dr. Agathoniki Tsilipakou, and the appointed advisor of SETE, Mr. Alexandros Thanos.
Mr. Tsilidis emphasized the inseparable connection between tourism and culture as part of the country’s cultural tourism. “There is no organized trip in Greece without at least one cultural excursion,” he stated, acknowledging the contribution of cruise tourism to cultural tourism, which brings visitors to many archaeological sites and destinations with rich cultural heritage. He noted that this is a timeless, year-round product of Greek tourism that can serve as a catalyst for extending the tourism season in Greece.
He also highlighted the potential to capitalize on university excursions for school terms in Greece, recalling the period when the Greek cruise company, Royal Cruise Line, chartered ships for onboard lessons for university students, allowing them to learn about world cultures while traveling.
“Modern visitors to Greece possess a wealth of knowledge and have expanded their field of understanding, leading to a greater interest in the country’s archaeological sites and museums. They now experience, up close and with respect, the cultural wealth that comes to life before their eyes,” Mr. Tsilidis emphasized. This sentiment was also shared by the presidencies of travel agency associations from around the world, who participated in the 1st World Meeting of the WTAA, during their tours in Athens and Crete, where they had the opportunity to be impressed by the culture and history of each location.
During this year’s PHILOXENIA HOTELIA exhibition, a special award was presented by FedHATTA and HATTA to the Tourist Agencies Association of Macedonia-Thrace (ETGMT) for its long-term contribution to the tourism sector, the dynamism it demonstrates through its membership in the Federation, its work in solving technical issues related to travel agencies, and its determination to contribute to the strengthening of the travel agency sector, which is responsible for the largest share of global tourism flows.
HATTA also participated in the 4th Bike Friendly Forum, held on November 15 as part of the exhibition events, focusing on promoting cycling tourism and sustainable mobility in Greece. HATTA President Mr. Nikolaos Kelaitidis delivered a greeting at the Forum, reiterating HATTA’s support for the “Bike Friendly” initiative as a further boost to alternative and thematic tourism in Greece. Mr. Kelaitidis acknowledged the significant potential in alternative tourism, including the growing prospects of cycling tourism in Greece, a form of sustainable mobility widely practiced in many European countries, contributing to the well-being of both residents and visitors.
Additionally, FedHATTA and HATTA supported the promotion of Cuba, which participated with a neighboring booth, aiming to highlight it both as a destination for Greek travelers and as an incoming tourism market for Greece.
