ATHENS — Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis had an online meeting with his Italian counterpart Massimo Garavaglia on Thursday. Theoharis congratulated Garavaglia on his appointment and wished him every success, especially during such a difficult period.

The Greek minister referred to the importance of Greece's new tools in terms of opening up tourism during the current year, listing vaccination and rapid tests but also the way Greece is preparing to open. Theoharis invited his Italian counterpart to visit Greece at the first opportunity, such as the 66th Meeting of the Regional Committee for Europe of the World Tourism Organisation that will be held in June in Athens.

On his part, Garavaglia underlined the need for further cooperation at an EU level regarding the vaccination certificates and noted the Italian government's intention to extend the tourist season and open it to foreign as well as domestic tourism. He also pointed out the importance of restoring flights as normality is gradually restored and praised Italian Embassy's cooperation with the Greek tourism ministry.

Both ministers agreed to further continue coordination and close cooperation on issues referring to bilateral relations and on an EU level.