The first WTAAA General Assembly and Board Meeting of travel agent members of the WTAAA (World Travel Agents’ Associations Alliance), which started on November 6, 2024, in Athens and Crete, with the main objective of highlighting new ways of promoting Greece in the largest international markets as a leading destination, is coming to an end today. The coordinators of the event were FedHATTA HATTA.

The work of WTAAA in Athens, which was held at the hotel “Plaza Resort Hotel” in Anavyssos, was attended by dozens of delegates, members of the presidencies of the WTAAA member associations, who represented the global tourism market and had the opportunity to get in touch not just with the Greek travel sector, but also with representatives of the Greek National Tourist Board, Regions and tourist promotion organizations.

At the meeting in Athens, speeches were addressed to the delegates by the Head of the General Directorate of Administration, Organization and Promotion of the Hellenic Tourism Organization, Sofia Lazaridou, the person in charge of gastronomy of the South Aegean Region, Vasia Papailia, the marketing manager of the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, Grigoris Toulias and the business development manager of EATA, Maria Papadopoulou.

Greece’s main goal is to become a top holiday destination and to reduce seasonality, by spreading its visitors throughout the territory, promoting alternative experiences and forms of tourism and strengthening traditional markets and developing new ones, Sofia Lazaridou underlined in a special presentation on behalf of GNTO.

Ms. Lazaridou highlighted GNTO initiatives for the promotion and extension of the tourist season in Greece. In particular, over the last five years GNTO spent 39.9 million euros for promotion purposes across 350 media outlets, in 37 markets all over the world, of which 2 million euros were directed to a promotion campaign for the 5 islands affected by the immigration crisis. In addition, in the period 2019-2024 the Organization spent 41.6 million euros on co-advertising with 160 partners in 35 markets, with the aim of extending the season. Additionally, in the last two years, 11 million euros were spent on 12-month co-advertising programs with 10 air carriers.

The great tourism prospects of the islands of the South Aegean were highlighted by Vasia Papailia. She outlined that the islands are ideal for quality tourism since 25% of the hotels are in the 5- and 4-star category, while in the case of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Kos, the 5-star hotels have a share of 60%. After presenting the special characteristics of the islands, she called for an upgrade of the cooperation with the Region in new ways to promote Greek tourism and proposed the organization of a future annual conference of the WTAAA in one of the islands of the South Aegean.

The vision of the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization for the city to become an ideal, year-round city break destination was presented by Grigoris Toulias. In fact, through contacts made at the event, it emerged that American cruise travelers have expressed interest in visiting Thessaloniki. In addition, Maria Papadopoulou explained the holistic approach to destination marketing applied by EATA for Athens as a destination for holidays, for city breaks, for MICE and for digital nomads, with pillars of dynamic branding, innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships . The former Minister of Tourism and candidate for the position of Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization,

Haris Theocharis, was also invited to the meeting, and was warmly greeted by delegates, who already knew him from the days of his ministerial tenure.

Haris Theocharis spoke of the challenges faced by international tourism in recent years and underlined the need for greater extroversion in the sector. As he said, tourism in recent years has closed in on itself and discussions are often held in a closed circle of shareholders, that doesn’t include the tourism professionals who shape the market. “We need to come together, to help you develop tourism according to the principles of the United Nations,” he said, and asked for everyone’s support in his candidacy at the WTO. The candidacy of Mr. Theoharis is particularly supported by the Greek organizing side, as it is a great time and honor for the tourism of our country, but also for global tourism, given that he is an expert on the issues that most concern the tourism industry globally. Following his address at the WTAAA Meeting, representatives of travel agencies from around the world pledged their full support for his candidacy.

Finally, the new online certification program for travel agents for Greek destinations – Greece Destinations Experts Program – was presented, which, according to the delegates, can be a valuable tool for travel agents from all over the world who organize trips to our country. It will allow them to enrich their tourism product and to ensure the authenticity of the services and information they add to it.

The sponsors and supporters of the event are: GNTO, South Aegean Region, Aegean Airlines, Athens International Airport, Athens Development and Tourist Promotion Company, Thessaloniki Tourist Promotion Organization. From November 9, the Meeting of WTAAA Travel Agencies continued in Crete, in a more relaxed atmosphere, where delegates visited Heraklion and Rethymnon and enjoyed traditional Cretan hospitality and the island’s distinctive food and drinks.