Thessaloniki Aims for Year-round Tourism

White Tower, Thessaloniki. Photo by Region of Central Macedonia

Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said the ministry is working to establish Thessaloniki as an all-year destination and a leading city break in the Balkans.

Speaking at the “Destination Thessaloniki: 365 days of Meetings, Studies, Sports, Cruises & Health” conference hosted on the sidelines of the annual Philoxenia exhibition last week, Mrs Kountoura stressed the need to further develop and promote alternative forms of tourism and added: “Our strategic plan includes a number of Greek cities in collaboration with the regional and municipal authorities and local communities and chambers.”

The minister also referred to the vital role Thessaloniki will play in next year’s “Cross-year Greece and Russia” celebrations.

“We want to have 365 days of quality tourism. In this direction, we are aiming to set up permanent infrastructure… We want to inspire and motivate the private sector and young entrepreneurs to step in and take Thessaloniki a step further,” Deputy Thessaloniki Mayor for Tourism and International Relations Spiros Pengas said.

On a final note, on occasion of the parallel Philoxenia, Hotelia and Polis fairs, the TIF-Helexpo President Tasos Tzikas spoke of the national exhibition agency’s contribution to the promotion of the city as a year-round destination through its events, conferences and exhibits.