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K. Bakoyannis: ‘Athens has returned and is looking ahead to the international tourist markets’

Athens is “introduced” to the international tourist markets as a dynamic and sustainable destination, through the 8th Travel Trade Athens. The organization – institution of the Municipality of Athens implemented through the Company for Development and Tourism Promotion (EATA) in collaboration with the European Organization of Tour Agents (ETOA), hosts from 9-10 May in Athens more than 160 representatives of important Greek and foreign companies tourism industry, as well as ten representatives from major international media, which through the event, will promote the destination around the world.

With this year’s Travel Trade Athens, the Greek capital addresses key target markets in Europe, Britain, the United States, but also the Middle East. The 8th Travel Trade is attended by more than 70 representatives of foreign companies from the wider tourism and events industry and respectively 90 Greek companies. The planned B2B meetings are estimated to exceed 1,400 in these two days and the main goal is to conclude as many possible agreements for collaborations that will strengthen the economy of Athens in the future.

On Monday morning, as part of the 8th Travel Trade Athens, the well-established press conference was held at the King George Hotel, attended by the Mayor of Athens Mr. Costas Bakogiannis, the President of AEGEAN, Mr. Eftychios Vasilakis, his Director of Communication and Marketing Athens International Airport, Mrs. Ioanna Papadopoulou and the CEO of EATA, Mr. Vangelis Vlachos.

From the positions of the speakers, it was confirmed for another year the commitment of all stakeholders to continue to consistently support the event, in order for the destination of Athens to be further strengthened, especially abroad.

In his speech, the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Costas Bakogianniswarmly thanked the representatives of AEGEAN and Athens International Airport for their cooperation in the joint effort to re-establish Athens in the international tourist markets, and stated:

“Athens is back, or Athens is back. And it came back with optimism, with dynamism, I dare say with enthusiasm, despite the many and great crises we face. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to re-establish ourselves internationally, not only for the Acropolis, not only for the authentic Greek hospitality, not only for the food, but as a city that can function professionally, which can spread an “umbrella” of protection above all, by all Athenians – where Athenians are, we are all permanent residents, but also all those who visit us even for a few hours or a few days. This is a collective success and in it, institutions like This is Athens have played a catalytic role.

Athens, in recent years – and this can be seen from the measurements – has emerged as a destination of choice for “city break”, for business travel, for investment and for film productions. The efforts made for several years to make the city an ideal destination have been largely justified. But in no case are we entitled to rest, quite the opposite. The starting point of our effort for the coming years must be a change of model, a change of way of thinking. To understand now that we must understand our city holistically. Do not separate tourism and local economy and competitiveness, but treat our destination, our city as “one.” Because the reality is that when we invest in the quality of life of permanent residents, then we also invest in Athens as a destination for the visitors”.

For his part, the President of AEGEAN, Mr. Eftychios Vasilakis, said: “We are pleased to see that investments in the product of Athens, with new large hotels, boutique hotels, renovated accommodation, restaurants, places of culture, but also new products and experiences, continued the years of the pandemic. So this year, with the prospects positive, we have to present an Athens even more beautiful and richer in experiences than two years ago.This collective effort is framed and strengthened by our investment in the new Business Lounge of AEGEAN in its extra Schengen area Athens Airport, offering visitors to England, America, Canada, the Arab world, but also to all those traveling to and from destinations outside Europe, a unique hospitality experience. At the same time, AEGEAN continues to invest in the dynamics and interconnection of Athens with a network of 116 direct destinations in 42 countries, 20 of which are young compared to last year. But also in the program of renewal of our fleet, with 22 additional new aircraft A320 and A321 neo to be included in our fleet in 2022 and 2023, reducing our environmental footprint. “When we all work together, we can have a city worth visiting, working, but also living.”

In her speech, Mrs. Ioanna Papadopoulouon behalf of the Athens International Airport, stressed: “As we move into the post-pandemic era and after two years of crisis, all the actors that make up the ‘destination-travel-tourism’ chain, we continue our close cooperation focusing our coordinated efforts. Promoting our city as a sustainable destination and promoting it as a top travel destination Based on the first optimistic messages for the summer season confirming the resilience of Athens, Travel Trade Athens 2022 is the ideal platform to re-establish our destination in the most important international markets and, at the same time, to communicate the redefinition of its identity in the context of environmental sustainability, “smart” digital transformation and innovation “.

The CEO of EATA Mr. Vangelis Vlachos said in his speech: “The pandemic, through all the difficulties it has created for us, has given us an opportunity: to design, and to put into implementation a comprehensive development plan of the Municipality of Athens so that Athens acquires the place it deserves To implement this strategy, we focused on two key areas: Further strengthening our city as a top destination with an emphasis on conferences and meetings, and promoting and empowering local businesses. with initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The 8th TravelTrade Athens that starts today and is implemented by the Conference Office of the Municipality of Athens (This is Athens CVB) in collaboration with the European Tourism Association (ETOA) covers both of these axes. the organization of this year’s Travel Trade, we are ready to introduce Athens to the world again “.

It is noted that since 2013, Travel Trade Athens has hosted over 600 buyers from 35 countries around the world and has mediated for more than 17,000 B2B meetings. The event is implemented every year by the Development and Tourism Promotion Company of the Municipality of Athens (EATA), through the Conference and Visitors Office that operates under the “umbrella” of EATA, in collaboration with the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA).

In addition to the scheduled meetings, the two-day event includes a range of authentic experiences in the city, as well as events and seminars for participants.

Travel Trade Athens concludes tomorrow, Tuesday, May 10, and will meet with tourism representatives next spring.

Source: Capital

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