ATHENS — Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis is visiting the US and Mexico as part of his tour of countries of high interest for Greek tourism, the Greek tourism ministry announced on Friday. The Greek minister is to have a series of meetings with state officials, representatives of airline companies and other organisations involved with the international tourist market, as well as giving interviews to the media.

On Friday, Theoharis will meet in Atlanta with the President of Delta Airlines Glen Hauenstein and other executives of the US airline company. Later, Theoharis will meet representatives of the American Jewish Committee and Greek-American senators and entrepreneurs, as well as the board of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

On Saturday, he will have successive meetings with Polly Potter, the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Atlanta and with Tourism Commissioner Marc Zaronski.

On Sunday and on Monday, Theoharis will be in Cancun, Mexico for meetings and discussions with the tourism ministers of Spain and Portugal, as well as with Greg O'Hara, the founder and managing director of Certares, one of the largest tourism groups in the world. The Certares portfolio includes, among others, American Express Travel, the Travel Leaders' Group and part of Trip Advisor.

Later, Theoharis will take part in a meeting with the Tourism Minister of Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Tourism Secretary of Mexico Miguel Torruco and the president of World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) Gloria Guevara. The participants will discuss issues related with the lifting of restrictions on international travel for tourism.

Additionally, on Monday, Theoharis will meet with the managing director of Hilton Group Chris Nassetta, with the president of the organisation "Room Mate" Kike Sarasola and with the president of Marriott International Craig Smith.

On Wednesday, Theoharis will return to the USA and visit Dallas, Texas to meet with top officials of the airline company "American Airlines".

Theoharis' visit to the US will conclude next Thursday in Chicago, where he will have a meeting with the president of "United Airlines" Brett Hart and afterwards with the President and CEO of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Carey Pinkowski.