V. Kikilias: ‘Resumption of the direct flight Athens-Boston after three decades’

The development, investment, economic and reform character of the tourism product was highlighted by the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias, in his greeting at the 1st International Business and Hospitality Conference, organized by Liquid Media and Insider.

“The tourism product is a sure investment and it will be for the next decades. Especially for 2022, tourism – according to all indications – is the main source of income for the state. And – as I have repeated – what we are interested in “Both in the Ministry of Tourism, and in the Government as a whole, it is the dividend from the success of our tourism product that ends directly in the average Greek family”, stressed the Minister of Tourism.

Mr. Kikilias referred to the tangible and measurable results that already exist in the industry, emphasizing the extension of the tourist season and the strategic initiatives undertaken all previous months to “open” new destinations and strengthen the tourist flow from strong markets with high level -high spenders- travelers.

“Based on the strategy we set out in the winter, we already have 500,000 travelers in the capital directly from America: from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Washington. And now from Boston. With great pleasure, I saw at the weekend the Delta events from Boston with our Consulate, with our Expatriates and with the travelers who “welcome” the fact that the direct flight Boston-Athens resumed, after almost three decades. “All this, of course, adds value to our tourism product, as it translates into growth, investments that come to stay and boosting revenues from the transport of goods, throughout the year,” said the Minister of Tourism.

Mr. Kikilias focused on investments in the upgrading of tourist accommodation, but also on the implementation of major infrastructure projects throughout the country, which are directly related to the development of the tourism industry. “Right, the banks are showing a lot of interest in the tourism sector. Right, entrepreneurs – whether domestically or from abroad – see that this is a growth industry very rich in opportunities – in the short, medium and long term – and with very high profits “, he noted characteristically.

Finally, the Minister of Tourism stressed the importance of the successful rebranding of the country abroad, after more than two years of pandemic, which made Greece one of the safest destinations in the world. “The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is personally credited for the rebranding of the country. But we must not forget the Greek businessmen, as -these 2.5 years- our cooperation with the professionals in the tourism sector was impeccable and I thank them, especially “We have developed the whole framework that ensures that one can travel to our country safely. We take care of our travelers. We take care of our citizens. And we will continue to do that,” Kikilias said.