“Greeks are the most hospitable people in the world,” said Minister Kountoura Minister Elena Kountoura has been named Best Tourism Minister Worldwide, during the International Tourism Awards, which were held in Berlin on 7 March, whilst Greece won another accolade as the Best Destination worldwide making Greeks all around the globe proud.
Since inception in 1999, the PATWA International Awards are considered as the Oscars of the travel and tourism industry.
The objective of the organization is to recognise individuals and organisations that have excelled and/or are involved in the promotion of tourism from different sectors of the travel trade (such as aviation, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, government bodies, tourism ministries and other service provider(s) related directly or indirectly to the industry).
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Kountoura also received the Woman Achiever award from the Institute of South Asian Women (ISAW) for her contribution to the care of women and children and a third award by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) – congratulating her for Greece’s successful strategy to develop tourism. Talking to Greek press Ms Kountoura said that the award was a recognition and important achievement for Greek tourism and proceeded to dedicate all awards to Greece and the Greek people who are “the most hospitable people in the world.”
Kountoura also thanked Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for placing his trust in her and “sharing with me the vision for the development of Greek tourism” and the ministers that always supported her, as well as the tourism ministry itself, the National Tourism Organisation, her own team and the private sector “which worked just as hard for this success.”