Minister Kikilias Says Tourism and Trade Go Hand in Hand

Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias

Tourism is one of the country’s main business activities and as such is a key revenue generator that not only supports Greek families but can also play a key role in Greece’s post-Covid-19 recovery, said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias during an Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry board of directors meeting this week.

The minister referred to the link between trade and tourism and the importance of the sector, which contributes 1 in 4 euros directly or indirectly to the Greek economy and therefore to the Greek family.

“We support the hotel industry, but also the hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens who are involved in trade, especially small and medium-sized businesses, the various services that are interconnected with the tourism product,” he said.

“Our strategy supports traditional and dynamic branches of business activity,” said Kikilias, adding that “efforts are being made at the same time to attract new investments in key sectors of the Greek economy which will give impetus to tourism, as well as to strengthen infrastructure and preserve the quality of the offered tourist product associated with the country’s carrying capacity.”

Lastly, Kikilias underlined the importance of EU and national recovery funds that will go into crucial infrastructure projects, including destination management initiatives, the development of mountain tourism, agrotourism, wellness and health tourism, gastronomy, port and marina upgrades and works that will ensure visitor accessibility.

The minister said 320 million euros in RRF funds will go a long way in further strengthening both the tourism product and small and medium-sized businesses.