MELBOURNE – Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced that a tourism ministry bill to be tabled in parliament soon foresees the opening of a Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) office in Melbourne, a strategic move that will significantly contribute to attracting tourists from Australia.

“It is very important for us to add more markets, a greater potential for the country, in order to have travellers and tourists all year round,” he said in an interview with OPEN TV on Thursday.

Kikilias noted that regional airports had received a record 31 million arrivals in 2022, proving that the strategy for better tourism throughout Greece was successful.

He also added that tourism had been a key source of funds for the city of Athens in 2022, boosting the incomes of individuals and turnover in restaurants, cafes, museums and commerce.

Asked on the upcoming tourist season, Kikilias stated that the picture emerging from advance bookings indicated that Greece will see strong tourist flows in 2023. He pointed out that 56 direct flights a week to Athens International Airport from the USA and Canada have already announced, with additional flights expected to be added to this number in the spring.

On the upcoming elections, he said that the date of the elections does not affect the planning for tourism, while the fact that the season starts in early March means that, whenever the elections are held, Greece will have tourists.