Greece has officially reopened a tourism office in Australia, restoring a presence in the market more than a decade after the closure of its previous office in Sydney.
According to Ertnews, the new office of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) is housed at Greece’s Consulate General in Melbourne. Its official inauguration took place Monday, October 19, bringing together Greek and Australian officials, members of the Greek-Australian community, business representatives and tourism industry professionals.
The office began operating on November 11, 2025, under its head, Georgia Dimopoulou. Its return to Australia had been a longstanding request from the Greek Community of Melbourne and other diaspora organizations.
The previous GNTO office in Sydney closed in 2013.
NEWSLETTER TABLE TALK
Never miss a story.
Subscribe now.
The most important news & topics every week in your inbox.
Vassilis Papastergiadis, president of the Greek Community of Melbourne, and other community representatives have highlighted Australia’s importance for promoting Greek tourism, as well as the role of Australia’s large Greek community as a link between the two countries.
Officials from Greece and Australia attend inauguration
The ceremony was hosted by Greece’s Consul General in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgatzoglou, and attended by Greece’s ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos.
Among those present were Victorian government minister Steve Dimopoulos, Victorian MP and government representative in the state’s upper house Lee Tarlamis, opposition shadow minister David Davis and Papastergiadis.
Archimandrite Kyrillos, representing Archbishop Makarios of Australia, also attended, along with representatives of Greek organizations, business leaders, tourism professionals and members of the media.
The ceremony opened with a blessing by Archimandrite Kyrillos, followed by addresses from political and community representatives. Speakers highlighted the new office’s role in strengthening tourism and cultural ties between Greece and Australia.
The program was presented by Tammy Iliou. Speakers included Venizelos, Dimopoulos, Davis, Papastergiadis and Kyrillos.
GNTO targets broader range of Greek tourism
Dimopoulou said the reopening represented an important step toward strengthening cooperation between Greece and Australia.
The office will seek to promote Greece as a modern and sustainable destination, with its work extending beyond the country’s islands and coastal areas to culture, gastronomy, wellness, outdoor activities, cities and high-end tourism experiences.
The office will also focus on changing traveler preferences, including growing demand for authentic experiences, personalized services and destinations emphasizing sustainability and local culture.
Its work will center on three main areas: promoting sustainable tourism practices, highlighting Greece’s cultural, gastronomic and natural heritage, and encouraging visitors to explore more destinations throughout the year.
Particular emphasis will be placed on cultural tourism, high-end travel, tours, gastronomy, maritime tourism and cruises, as well as activities in nature.
The office also plans to work with Australian tourism organizations, travel agents, airlines, media outlets and institutional bodies to broaden interest in Greece beyond people who already have family or cultural connections to the country.
GNTO seeks to expand Australian audience
In a message delivered by Dimopoulou, GNTO Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos stressed the importance of the Australian market to Greek tourism and the potential for further development of bilateral relations.
He described the Greek diaspora as an important link between Greece and Australia, contributing to the preservation of the Greek language, culture and traditions while also promoting Greece as a tourism destination.
Fiorentinos said the GNTO’s goal is to expand the Australian audience interested in visiting Greece through targeted promotional campaigns, partnerships with tourism professionals and travel organizations, and media engagement.
He also called for the promotion of a modern, diverse Greece, with greater emphasis on lesser-known destinations and alternative forms of tourism. The aim is to spread tourism to more parts of the country and extend the tourism season beyond the peak months.
The Melbourne office will monitor the Australian market, develop new partnerships and help design targeted communications campaigns to promote Greece more effectively.
For Melbourne’s Greek community, the reopening fulfills a longstanding request for a stronger institutional Greek presence in a country with deep historical, cultural and family ties to the Greek diaspora.
The office’s next challenge will be to capitalize on the Australian market, promote a wider range of Greek destinations and attract Australian visitors throughout the year.