Athens Mayor, Tourism Minister Plan to Reintroduce the Greek Capital to the World

The Municipality of Athens and the Greek Tourism Ministry have agreed to launch synergies to establish Athens as a city open to visitors for all 365 days of the year, ideal for city breaks and hosting international conferences.

“Together we will create a new integrated strategy that will allow us during the pandemic – and despite the pandemic – to reintroduce Athens to the world,” the city’s mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis, said.

During a meeting on Tuesday at City Hall, the mayor and Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias agreed that the Greek capital’s tourism has enormous potential for further development – not only in its historic center, but also in all its 129 neighborhoods.

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis welcoming Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias to City Hall.

Minister Kikilias said that Athens is of “paramount importance” in everything that has to do with its tourism, trade and neighborhoods.

“In the coming days we will announce joint actions to strengthen the city as a year round destination,” the tourism minister said.

Among actions to launch will be the establishment of tourist and cultural city routes in the neighborhoods of Athens.

Kikilias said the city routes will be part of a new concept the ministry is forming for Athens, which will be promoted by the GNTO in an upcoming campaign focused on city break tourism in Greece.

The minister and the mayor also agreed to focus on promoting Athens as a MICE tourism destination to attract more international conferences, meetings and events to the city all year round.

“Conference tourism in Athens was lost in the pandemic and we will restore it to contribute to the city’s economy,” the minister said, referring to the Greek capital’s hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife.

Through the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (ADDMA or EATA in Greek), the Municipality of Athens is making efforts to boost its place among the world’s top meetings destinations.

“Athens last year was in 12th place internationally. For 2022 we believe that we can climb to the first or second place,” Mayor Bakoyannis said.

EATA recently entered into a new partnership with the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) to strengthen its relations with the international community of PCOs.

“Following the partnership we entered with IAPCO we are now finalizing the necessary health protocols (for meetings, conferences) because above all we want all visitors to our city to feel safe and to know we are a professional, serious and responsible destination,” Mayor Bakoyannis said.