Greece has seen an increase in Chinese tourists in 2019.
Between 150,000 and 200,000 Chinese tourists visited Greece last year, which marks a 20 percent growth from the year before.
China is among the 50 countries who are participating in the 6th International Tourism Expo in Athens, on Sunday 8th December.
“For tourists, today’s quality does not mean only luxury experiences and services, but a product and service respecting the environment, employees, tradition, which preserves cultural heritage,” said Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis at the expo.
With Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently visiting China, as well as China’s President Xi Jinping recently returning from his visit to Greece, the two countries have put increasing diplomatic relations on the agenda.
“What we are currently doing is trying to increase the number of the 250,000 (Chinese) visiting Greece today (per year) to 500,000 gradually,” said Angela Gerekou, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
Greece is trying to promote more cultural and historical aspects of tourism year-round, which Chinese tourists have recognised, outside of Santorini and Mykonos.
“The (Attica) Region is here, coordinating in all levels hoteliers, health services providers, cultural and sports organisations so that we will all be ready in two years to welcome 500,000 Chinese visitors who will enjoy their stay in the country of wellbeing and cradle of western civilisation, a country Chinese people love, as we know”, Giorgos Patoulis, regional governor of Attica said at the International Tourism Expo.
