Strong Message of Cooperation Between Greece and Finland from Rhodes Focus on Quality and Sustainable Tourism
The importance of further developing the tourism relations between Greece and Finland was highlighted by the participation of FedHATTA in the Annual Spring Meeting of the Finnish Tourism Enterprises Association (SMAL), which took place from April 22 to 26 in Rhodes, with the participation of 100 professionals from the tourism sector.
The event was hosted and coordinated by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), while from the Finnish side, Timo Saranpää, Chairman of the Board of AFTI/SMAL, and Heli Mäki-Fränti, CEO of SMAL and coordinator of the discussion panel, participated.
Greece remains one of the most popular destinations for Finns, who are drawn by the quality, safety, authenticity, and hospitality of the Greek tourism experience. According to data presented during the meeting by Andreas Fiorentino, General Secretary of GNTO, out of approximately 595,000 travel packages sold in Finland in 2025, nearly 209,000, or 35%, were for Greece (with dominant destinations being Rhodes and Crete). This figure underscores the significance of the Greek market for Finnish tour operators, as well as the significant prospects for further development of collaboration.
The enhancement of air connectivity also brings momentum. The new direct Finnair connection from Helsinki to Thessaloniki will create new opportunities for the promotion and development of more Greek destinations in the Finnish market. The expansion of direct flights enhances accessibility, supports the extension of the tourism season, and paves the way for greater geographic dispersion of travel flows.
In the context of its participation in the meeting, FedHATTA highlighted the pivotal role of travel agencies and organized trips in shaping a more resilient, quality, and sustainable tourism model. In a period of international upheavals, geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures, and changing travel behaviors, cooperation among tourism professionals becomes even more crucial.
FedHATTA members from the Dodecanese and Crete met with Finnish tourism professionals, as well as travel agencies representing the corresponding Finnish entities in Greece. FedHATTA members had the opportunity to discuss and exchange professional opinions during the parallel events on April 24.
The President of FedHATTA, Lysandros Tsilidis, stated: “Cooperation with GNTO has once again borne fruit, dynamically contributing to Greek tourism – the success of which can no longer be assessed solely in terms of arrivals but must be linked to quality, traveler satisfaction, and the promotion of experience destinations throughout the year. The Finnish market is a mature and quality market for Greece. The strong presence of Finnish professionals in Rhodes confirms that our country remains a trusted destination, with significant room for further development. Moreover, we are fellow members of ECTAA with the corresponding association of travel agencies in Finland participating in discussions on European tourism legislation. For FedHATTA, strengthening collaborations with international tourism markets, supporting organized trips, and promoting more Greek destinations remain a steady priority.”
