Op-Ed: ‘Covid Acted as an Accelerator of Change for Tourism’ – Angela Gerekou

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) has provided a podium for Greece’s key tourism figures to share their vision for the day after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Tourism is a key link in the development of the parallel markets in the whole economy of Greece. This crisis came to emphasize how interdependent the travel industry is with other sectors of our economy.

Globally and nationally, the recovery to 2019 levels is not to be expected before 2023.

In addition, the feeling of insecurity and fear that has emerged due to the pandemic, will leave its mark on the industry for a long time, with all that this entails.

Greece has reached the 13th spot on the list for the world’s top destinations in terms of arrivals and is the 5th tourism brand. While that means a lot, we still have work ahead of us!

Covid acted as an accelerator of change.

Any business, country, destination that lags in digital upgrade organization will now have a huge competitive disadvantage.

The companies that innovate and want to be internationally competitive, are sure to be the winners in this battle.

In other words, we need a more “smart” tourism for better and more efficient management so to “unlock” the value of trapped data and save both time and money.

At GNTO we are working for a more data-driven tourism sector, based on the principles of sustainability.

This is not just a moral obligation; it is also an intelligent business move.

Sustainable tourism is not a form of tourism but a key and a stable point of competitiveness.

Sustainability is our ally and goes hand in hand with the positive environmental footprint, in terms of resource management.

Transforming Greece into a world wellbeing center is a wise option. It will be where the traveler experiences activities that holistically embrace body, mind and soul.

Because … ALL YOU WANT IS GREECE!”

* This Op-Ed originally appeared in the Greek Travel Pages (GTP) annual printed edition for 2021. Press here for more information.