Elitour and Greek Hotels Agree to Develop Health & Wellness Tourism

In an attempt to accelerate actions that will pave the way for the development of health and medical tourism, the Greek Health Tourism Council Elitour announced that it had teamed up with the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) this week.

The move comes days after Elitour signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Athens International Airport (AIA).

Elitour President and Attica Governor George Patoulis and HCH President Alexandros Vassilikos signed an MoU which includes among others joint actions towards the creation of travel packages offering health, spa and wellness tourism options.

Under the deal, Elitour will work with Greek hotels to offer hospitality to tourists seeking health and wellness services, the formulation of packages and benefits for travelers, the promotion of wellness services, creating certification for hotels providing specialized wellness services, and sharing knowhow with hotels.

On its part, Elitour will also be responsible for coordinating supporting bodies and stakeholders as well as cooperating with foreign businesses and health agencies with in efforts to get the segment underway.

Patoulis expressed his satisfaction with the MoU, which he said is “crucial” as health and medical tourism can contribute to the tourism ministry’s goal of extending the season. He added that the time was right to tap into the segment particularly after Covid-19 when the world is returning its focus on health, medical and wellness tourism.

On his part, the chamber’s president said that the thematic differentiation and enrichment of Greece’s tourism product is a strategic choice for the sustainable future of Greek hospitality.

“The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels has since 2011 run a study on the development of medical tourism in Greece. In this direction, the emergence of Greece as a global destination for health and wellness tourism is a top priority worth joining ideas and forces for,” said Vassilikos.