Thessaloniki is seeking to strengthen its position as an international tourism destination by attracting visitors from emerging markets such as Egypt, according to Prodromos Monastiridis, president of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB).
The initiative aims to establish Thessaloniki as a tourism hub in Greece’s wider geographical neighbourhood by combining city tourism, coastal destinations, cultural attractions, gastronomy and conference facilities.
Monastiridis outlined the strategy during a recent familiarisation trip to Thessaloniki and Halkidiki for representatives of leading travel agencies from Cairo. The Egyptian travel agents travelled to Greece on AEGEAN’s new direct flight connecting Cairo with Thessaloniki, which began operating in September.
“The combination of urban tourism, coastal destinations, culture, gastronomy and conference infrastructure forms a key part of the TCB’s strategy to reach new and emerging markets,” Monastiridis said.
According to a TCB announcement, the initiative forms part of the bureau’s strategic partnership with AEGEAN, a founding member of the organisation. The partnership seeks to raise Thessaloniki’s international profile, alongside the wider region, as a destination for conference tourism, business travel and leisure holidays.
The initiative also aims to strengthen the local tourism ecosystem and economic activity by creating opportunities for new partnerships with key players in the Egyptian market.
During the familiarisation trip, the visitors explored Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and the surrounding region through a programme combining cultural attractions, gastronomy and authentic leisure experiences. They visited prominent landmarks and experienced some of the destinations’ signature activities.
Scheduled business-to-business (B2B) meetings on 8 October formed a central part of the programme, providing opportunities for Greek tourism businesses to establish contacts with Egyptian travel industry representatives.
Eirini Sideropoulou, AEGEAN’s regional sales manager for northern Greece, the Ionian Islands and the Balkans, highlighted the importance of the new direct air connection between Thessaloniki and Cairo.
“The new direct air connection between Thessaloniki and Cairo strengthens efforts to further promote Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia as an internationally recognised destination with year-round activity, an objective we have consistently pursued alongside the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau through our close and meaningful cooperation,” Sideropoulou said.
Vicky Chatzivasileiou, Central Macedonia’s deputy regional governor for tourism, and Vasilis Gakis, Thessaloniki’s deputy mayor for culture, tourism development and intermunicipal cooperation, also addressed the event.
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