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Greek Tourism Sector Meets with New Minister, Lists Priorities
Posted On 08 Sep 2021
Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and SETE President Yiannis Retsos.
A number of topics identified as important for future action in the Greek tourism sector were discussed on Wednesday between Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE). Chaired by Yiannis Retsos, SETE is an umbrella organization representing various tourism sectors in Greece.
“Tourism is the biggest revenue engine of the Greek economy,” Minister Kikilias said at the start of the meeting, underlining that the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has indeed created many problems for tourism in Greece and worldwide.
He assured that he believes in team work and is willing to work with SETE, one of Greece’s social partners, as well as with all stakeholders, in order to put tourism, “this huge and powerful machine”, back on track.
In his first meeting with the Greek tourism representatives since becoming tourism minister, Kikilias was briefed on a number of key issues involving the sector and discussed topics including necessary actions to prepare for the next summer season as well as the need to launch a medium-term strategy to strengthen the sector.
Extension of the tourism season is a priority
On his part, SETE’s president said Greece’s tourism sector was going through a second very difficult year and stressed that a main priority is to extend the tourism season.
“With the proper handling, tourism activity can continue not only in autumn but also in winter,” he said and reminded that many small businesses still remain closed from March 2020 due to the pandemic.
“From there on, we must look at the challenges that will appear in the immediate future, because the pandemic will pass at some point and then we will return to the problems for tourism that we had identified since 2019,” Retsos said.
SETE’s president added that strategic issues must be discussed such as how the Greek tourism product should be shaped and also what is needed to strengthen infrastructure, in order for the sector to re-enter a new period of development.
Moreover, he highlighted that Greece must continue to remain open to its key markets such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Israel.
“We must, therefore, see what immediate actions need to be carried out so we can create the conditions for the country to stay open and our economic activity to remain active,” Retsos noted.
In addition, during the meeting, issues relating to the future of tourism were raised, such as the management of destinations and the improvement and promotion of the tourism product.
Also present at the meeting was the Greek Secretary General for Tourism Policy & Development, Vicky Loizou, SETE’s board members and the representatives of the 14 pan-hellenic unions of tourism enterprises* that run the entire tourism value chain (hotels, travel agencies, transport, marinas, MICE etc.). SETE represents the 14 unions.
* The pan-hellenic unions of tourism enterprises that SETE represents include HHF (Hellenic Hotel Federation), SETKE (Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Greek Tourism Enterprises), SΕΕΝ (Association of Passenger Shipping Companies), HAPCO (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers), HATTA (Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies), HPYOA (Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association), GSRA (Greek Car Rental Companies Association), GEPOET (General Pan – Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises), HACA (Hellenic Air Carriers Association), HATEOA – Association of Hellenic Outdoor Activities Enterprises, ELIME (Hellenic Ports Association), SΑΑΕ (Hellenic Association of Airline Representatives), GMA (Greek Marinas Association) and SYKAKEL – Association of Diving Centers of Greece.
Greece needs to invest in sustainable tourism, not huge all inclusive complexes, but encourage more small family businesses. These are so typical of their area and charm tourists with their authenticity. Do not make Greece into one homogenised sun and sea resort. There’s other places for those tourists, we need quality tourism. Also, the number visiting remote beauty spots needs to be policed before they are polluted beyond repair. Maybe even a moratorium on visitors for a while.
Has there been any consideration given to using some of the tourism funding to increased litter control and cleanup? We love Greece, but are discouraged by the litter that seems to be strewn all around the beautiful landscape. When we visit one of the beautiful beaches here we always seem to spend part of our time picking up litter from people that don’t appear to have any respect for the country.
Increase quality tourism and protect authentic Greek culture. Eliminate cheap packaged tourism with direct flights to destinations where nothing is respected. We have so much to promote and to be proud of. I travel a lot in many areas in mainland and many islands yearly. Autumn and Winter tourism can happen but Greeks in these areas need to get on board progress, respect the land and traditions and ease facilities if technology. It us a difficult balance but without it we will end up like Thailand or Indonesia’s tourism paradigm. Bhutan is more of a way to go.
If you want tourists to come, maje their livesxeasier and eliminate the requirement for covid tests everytime one travel by plane or fery in Greec.
Recignize vacc8ns from other countries, a lot of vaccinated tourists can not use their vaccination cards in Greec because third country vaccin wre not considered válid.