Greece and China Agree on Tourism Action Plan for 2022-2024 Period
Greece and China have agreed to work together on enhancing tourist flows between the two countries and increasing tourism-related investments for the 2022-2024 period, the Tourism Ministry announced this week.
Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and China Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng on Monday signed a joint action plan for the 2022-2024 period which foresees among others targeted promotional activities, the development of alternative forms of tourism and increasing tourist flows.
Through the action plan Greece and China will exchange know-how in tourism education and training, introduce incentives to facilitate tourism-related investments, and jointly participate in international organizations and events, including the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Moreover, 2022-2024 action plan sees the the continuation of the Greece-China Year of Culture and Tourism activities, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the World Tourism Alliance (WTA).
Referring to the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries, Kikilias added that the joint action plan was “an important initiative to increase the number of visitors and strengthen the country’s tourism product”.
Among others, Greece and China will be working together on targeted actions aimed at developing cultural, MICE, wedding and medical tourism.
“China and Greece are ancient civilizations with rich tourist resources and a strong tourism industry. This year marks the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, while we are also in the second year of the ‘China-Greece Culture and Tourism’ initiative. The signing of the joint action plan for tourism is particularly important and strengthens the spirit of cooperation and understanding between our countries,” said Junzheng.
I’m not one to usually get political but on this occasion I can’t help myself.
Why is Greece courting the Chinese Tourism market and making agreements when the Chinese Government are apparently showing support to the Russians in their barbaric invasion in Ukraine?
Any country that supports – directly or indirectly – the ongoing atrocities should not be being courted – regardless of whatever the benefits might be to a country. It’s smacks of hypocrisy when the Greek Government is saying it stands by Ukraine and will support the country through the crisis.
The fact that China only today, along with Russia obviously, was the only country to vote against the United Nations ICJ to stop the Russian invasion speaks volumes.
Surely this agreement needs reviewing until the current situation is resolved?
May i ask where you from?
Beware Greece! Belt and road initiative is a trap! Check what’s happening not far from Greece, like Montenegro or Serbia.
Chinese authorities will do their maximum to keep domestic tourists in the country once the country is “open” (in a year, maybe two?). Plus recently Chinese authorities don’t deliver passports anymore for non-essential travel.
We (Europe, Greece included) have to wake up and stop signing so-called deals.