By Ilias Karagiannis
A constructive meeting recently took place between Greece’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Elena Rapti, and the publisher of The Greek Herald, Dimitra Skalkos, focusing on the upcoming reopening of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) office in Melbourne, Victoria.
The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Tourism in Athens, Greece, centred on the operation of the new GNTO office in Melbourne. The reopening of this office is expected to bolster the Ministry’s efforts to promote Greece as a top destination in Australia, leveraging the dynamic Greek community in matters of tourism development and promotion of the Greek tourism product.
During the meeting, Ms Rapti informed Ms Skalkos about the Ministry’s recent initiatives to boost tourism from Australia, particularly focusing on special forms of tourism that are part of her portfolio. Specifically, they discussed ways to promote alternative tourism, aiming to attract more Australian tourists who wish to experience the authentic Greek experience beyond the popular tourist destinations.
Additionally, the significant work of Ms Rapti’s team at the Ministry of Tourism on upgrading the skills of workers in the hospitality sector in Greece was discussed. To achieve this, the best global practices and some of the most unique methods in tourism are being utilised.
For her part, Ms Skalkos expressed her support for the Ministry’s initiatives and committed to contributing to the promotion of Greece through The Greek Herald, as the publication has consistently done for decades.
The meeting concluded in a climate of mutual understanding and cooperation, with a shared goal of further developing Greek tourism in Australia.
Later in the day, Ms Skalkos also met with the Deputy Secretary General of the GNTO, Konstantinos Zikos, who took over after the resignation of Dimitris Fragakis. The discussion between Mr Zikos and Ms Skalkos revolved around the reopening of the GNTO office in Melbourne and details regarding the imminent start of its operations.
