ATHENS – Greece’s tourism in 2022 just missed setting a record as the COVID-19 pandemic waned but the comeback was big enough to rate among the top destinations in Europe said the European Travel Commission (ETC).

Based on findings in the ETC’s European Tourism: Trends and Prospects report for the fourth quarter of the year, Greece was among the countries recording the fastest recovery compared to pre-pandemic 2019, said GTP Headlines.

https://news.gtp.gr/2023/02/17/etc-greece-among-countries-to-recover-tourism-fast-in-2022/

According to ETC analysts one in two destinations recovered more than 80 percent of their pre-COVID foreign arrivals with destinations in the southern Mediterranean posting the fastest recovery as the year ended.

Greece is looking toward another big year in 2023 and has reached out to lure people year round with attractions other than sun, sand, islands, beaches and the summer, and has targeted Asian for potential.

The Hellenic-Thai Chamber of Commerce participated at a presentation of Greece as a tourist destination, given by a delegation of Greek travel agents, with some 50 Thai agencies being briefed, said Travel Daily News.

https://www.traveldailynews.asia/meetings-events/greece-as-a-tourist-destination-presentation-to-thai-tos-in-bangkok/

Alexandra Christodoulea, Economic & Commercial Counsellor for the Greek Embassy in Bangkok told them that, “Both our counties are famous for their unique landscape, their pristine beaches and lovely weather, their gastronomy and diverse cuisine, their culture and hospitality. With so much in common, we definitely can achieve better cooperation in the field of tourism and increase significantly our presence in the tourist markets.”

The Chairman of the Hellenic-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thanasis Tsepisis addressed the participants presenting the role of HTCC in supporting Thai and Greek companies which want to do business together, the report said.

The participants had the opportunity to taste Greek food and wines provided by the Olive Greek Mediterranean Restaurant in Bangkok and the importing company M Dynamics Asia Co.

Theodore Koumelis, Publisher & Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific, and Founding Member of the Hellenic-Thai Chamber of Commerce stressed the potential of business between Thailand and Greece.

“Since 2012, we are working together with Greek travel companies as well as with Thai importers to leverage the business opportunities between the two countries. We have seen a significant increase in outbound from Thailand to Greece as well as an increase in imports of Greek food products in Thailand. Our scope … is to bring the two countries closer together through tourism and gastronomy,” he said.

Christodoulea said that, “Tourism in Greece, exactly as tourism in Thailand, has been a key element of the economic activity in the country and one of the country’s most important sectors. Exactly as Thailand in Asia, Greece has been a major tourist destination and attraction in Europe, since the 1960s mostly due to its rich culture and history, as well as its long coastline, many islands, and beaches. Both our counties are famous for their unique landscape, their pristine beaches and lovely weather, their gastronomy and diverse cuisine, and their culture and hospitality. With so much in common, we definitely can achieve a better cooperation in the field of tourism and increase significantly our presence in the tourist markets.”