Greece to Form National Strategic Plan for Tourism

The Greek Government will form a National Strategic Plan for Tourism, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura informed the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

Speaking during the chamber’s board meeting today, Ms. Kountoura said that the primary objective of the Super-Ministry for Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism is to enrich Greece’s tourism product and to extend the tourism season.

She also described the ministry as the tourism business community’s “problem-solving tool”, citing as an example the interventions made to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to facilitate the issuance of visas to citizens from certain countries where problems exist (i.e. Russia).

Ms. Kountoura underlined that her goal is to reduce bureaucracy in the sector and she pledged that the ministry will be the cohesive factor between regional and local governments to directly address issues that degrade the image of Greek tourism destinations.

On his part, the chamber’s president Giorgos Tsakiris underlined that the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels is a “guardian of the quality of Greek tourism” and he requested the best possible cooperation with the super-ministry.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels has been operating since 1935 as a Legal Entity of Public Law. It is the institutional consultant of the Government as far as tourism and hospitality issues are concerned.