Tourism in Greece

Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni discussed the progress of the ministry's initiatives and highlighted measures for the cruise industry and short-term rentals during the meeting of the board of directors of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

Overtourism is becoming an increasingly worrisome reality for Greece. A country that, to a large extent, depends on the tourist industry does not have the luxury of turning a blind eye and continuing down the slippery slope we are witnessing.

Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni held a meeting at the Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday with representatives from the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

Greece is doing everything in its power to assure the return of foreign travelers who came to the country with tour operator FTI, the Tourism Ministry said on Monday, hours after the German firm filed for bankruptcy.

The announcement that Germany's FTI Group, Europe's third-largest tour operator, has filed for insolvency and will cancel or scale back trips that have not yet started comes at a critical time for Greek tourism as the main summer season begins.

FTI brings hundreds of thousands of Germans and other visitors to Greece, mainly to Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu.

The new application was presented this morning by the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni at a special event at the National Gallery

Sky Express will continue operating two direct flights per week from Paris to Iraklio on Crete until the end of November, extending the tourist season into the winter months.

This initiative creates an opportunity for French travelers to visit one of Greece's most popular destinations during the off-peak season.

The Greek National Tourism Organization's (GNTO) efforts to increase tourism flows from the Arab world to Greece are in full swing, with the GNTO attending the Arabian Travel Market trade show in this context.

GNTO Secretary-General Dimitris Fragakis stated that "the Arab countries are the main target of the organization's strategy in opening to new markets.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni received the new ambassador of Japan, Koichi Ito, on Thursday.

During the meeting, they discussed the promotion of bilateral tourism cooperation, as well as the events in the field of tourism, planned on both sides, within the framework of Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism 2024.

A 61-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after being crushed by a tractor for unknown reasons while working in his field in the Malades area of Heraklion, Crete, on Friday.

He was immediately transported to the Venizeleio Hospital of Heraklion with severe injuries.

Despite medical efforts, approximately 24 hours after the accident, he passed away.