Plans include an online presentation of Argentina for Greek travel agents, as well as exchanges of visits and television programs

Ways to strengthen tourism cooperation between Greece and Argentina were discussed at a meeting on Tuesday, 27 October, between Lysandros Tsilidis, President of FedHATTA, and Lucía Isabel Viera, Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Argentina in Athens.

The meeting focused on opportunities to promote both countries and develop initiatives to boost two-way tourism flows. As a first step, an online seminar was proposed for Argentina’s tourism authorities to present the country’s tourism offering to Greek travel agents, airlines and journalists. FedHATTA will help inform and invite Greek tourism operators.

During the meeting, it was noted that the two countries appeal to a similar travel market: people interested in culture, extended holidays and lesser-known urban destinations. These travellers are mainly over 50, but also include students – among them participants in Erasmus programs – and people with middle and higher incomes.

Despite the similarities in the two peoples’ contemporary lifestyles and cultural outlook, geographical distance and Greek travellers’ limited familiarity with Argentina make systematic promotion of the country necessary. Targeted marketing and showcasing the destinations and experiences each country offers could help attract more visitors.

In this context, the possibility of exchanging delegations was also considered, with the aim of presenting Greek destinations in Argentina and Argentine destinations in Greece. The two sides also discussed the possibility of exchanging television programs featuring the two countries and their tourism options.

The meeting followed contacts initiated last June between Argentina’s Ambassador, Luis Azpiazu; the Greek Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni; and the president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Angeliki Varela. FedHATTA President Lysandros Tsilidis said: “The cooperation between the two sides aims to serve as the starting point for a broader program of joint initiatives to strengthen the tourism and cultural ties between Greece and Argentina.”