Greek tourism leaders gathered in Istanbul on November 2, 2024, to strengthen connections and promote tourism destinations through a B2B event held at the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) headquarters.
Representatives from various regions, including Alexandroupolis, Central Greece, Western Macedonia, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, engaged in direct meetings with Turkish travel professionals, aiming to boost tourism collaboration and highlight the unique offerings of these Greek regions.
The event began with promotional videos showcasing the scenic beauty and cultural heritage of the participating regions. Following the presentations, Greek and Turkish participants engaged in one-on-one discussions, exploring potential partnerships and tourism opportunities.
Other prominent attendees included Ioannis Bogdis, General Secretary of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis; Panagiotis Arxontis, Deputy Governor of Tourism for the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; and Athanasios Papadimitriou, Chief of the Department of Tourism & Culture. Each of them shared insights into the tourism potential of their respective regions and the initiatives they are implementing to attract more visitors.
The full list of participants from Greece are as follows:
- Alexandros Tzenalis-Organiser
- Dimosthenis Tzenalis-Organiser
- Xaris lordanidis-Organiser
- Maria Dalakoura-Organiser
- loannis Zampoukis-Mayor of Alexandroupolis
- loannis Bogdis-General Secretary of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- Anastasios Serafeimidis, President of Tourist Spa Enterprise of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- Petros Kiriakidis, Vice President of Tourist Spa Enterprise of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- Aristeidis Xrysopoulos, Special Advisor to the Mayor of Alexandroupolis for the Tourism and Culture Sector
- Euaggelos Sideras-Public Relations and Tourism-Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- Athanasios Papadimitriou MSc Tourism Business Administration, Chief of the Department of Tourism & Culture
- Panagiotis Arxontis-Deputy Governor of Tourism-Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- Georgios Panagopoulos-Tourism Manager-Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- Xaralambos Sofroniadis- Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- Fani Papathoma Deputy Governor of Tourism & Culture
- Marianna Liaskou Tourism Manager- Region of Central Greece
- Panagiotis Dimou Deputy Mayor of Tourism – Municipality of Kimi & Aliveri (Evia Island)
- Argiris Pafras Deputy Mayor – Municipality of Kimi & Aliveri (Evia Island)
- Vivi Bouranda-Chamber of Commerce/Representative
- Thodoris Roumeliotis-President of Association of Hoteliers of North Evia
- Dimitra Gogousi – Association of Hoteliers of North Evia/Representative
- Maria Tsoli – Association of Hoteliers Island/Representative
- Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras Consul General of Greece in Istanbul
- Christos Staboulopoulos, Advisor of Financial and Commercial Affairs A -Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul
- George-Spyridon Mamalos, Press and Communication Consultant A’-Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul
- Dimitra Bampali, Director – Attaché for Touristic Affairs Greek National Tourism Organisation – Turkish Office
Participants had the chance to experience a taste of Greece through culinary samples presented during the event. Traditional dishes provided a flavorful glimpse into the gastronomy of the featured regions, adding an authentic touch to the evening’s activities.
The event concluded with a dinner at Sismanoglio Megaro in Beyoğlu, where the Greek delegation and Turkish tourism representatives continued discussions in a more relaxed setting, further solidifying the relationships established during the day.
This showcase is part of an ongoing effort by Greek tourism leaders to promote regional destinations in international markets. As tourism interest between Greece and Turkey continues to grow, events like these play a crucial role in fostering cooperation and driving mutual growth in the travel sector.
