The tourism sector has emerged as the major pylon of economic growth and stability for Greece, a fact which will be confirmed with the signing of a protocol of cooperation between Greece and Turkey as it was underlined this week during the 8th Greece-Turkey Forum on Tourism.
Addressing the forum, Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Yeroulanos pointed out that target markets for the two countries should include India, China, Japan and North America. Yeroulanos focused on the obstacles the two countries need to overcome during his speech, naming the simplification of visa issuance procedures as one of them.
He also referred to the importance of joint travel packages offered by Greece and Turkey which will feature common tourism products, such as familiarisation trips and promotion programs.
Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister, Ertugrul Gunay, praised the atmosphere existing between the two countries and underlined that the Aegean can serve as a “life vest” amid the economic crisis. He also said joint participation of the two countries in international tourism exhibitions in shared pavilions is a very important move, one aimed at attracting specialised markets.
Regarding the spectrum of bilateral cooperation, the Turkish minister stressed that it ranges from attracting investments to developing sea cruise and religious tourism, suggesting that a forum should be held at least every two years.
Source: Athens News
