5th Athens International Tourism Expo opens its doors to the public

At the opening ceremony, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said that 2018 was a golden year for Greek tourism, with 33 million arrivals and a 2-billion euro revenue growth compared to last year. In 2018 alone, Kountoura continued, 400 investments projects have been implemented, resulting in an additional 26,000 beds.

Kountoura went on to announce that a bilateral committee between Lebanon, honoured country during this year’s AITE, and Greece, was inaugurated on Friday. The committee’s works will focus on increasing touristic flows between the two countries.

Discussing a wellness tourism event that took place during the first day of the AITE, Kountoura said that this is an area with excellent prospects, especially in view of the new bill on thematic tourism passed on Thursday in parliament.
Greece deserves to become a wellness tourism destination to be reckoned with, the Minister said. Within the Greek territory, there are already 54 officially recognized mineral springs and the Ministry has set in motion the necessary processes for another 75 to be added to the list by the beginning of 2019.