This year for Greek tourism began dynamically, after two consecutive records, with positive messages from the tourism market as in an interview with RES-EIA by Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogiannis. Specifically, in January there was a significant increase in both travel traffic, over 10%and in receipts in relation to the corresponding month last year. “It is an indication of the upward course of tourism during the winter months,” he says.

At the same time, the ministry’s central objective, according to Ms Kefalogiannis, is the qualitative development of Greek tourism. As he notes: “We are working on the spatial and time expansion of tourism activity in our country, to highlight less well -known destinations, to enrich the tourism offer, while ensuring the protection and promotion of our natural and cultural wealth. Thus, we can achieve multiple, long -term benefits from tourism for the national economy and local communities. “

The minister made a special reference to the island of Santorini, stressing that “it returns to regularity and remains a hospitable destination, ready for yet another dynamic tourist year”. As the Ministry of Tourism and the EOT points out in its interview, they are in practice supporting the attempt to maintain the attractiveness of Santorini as a top tourist destination. In this context, all the digital tools of the Visit Greece platform will be utilized, while the specialization plan of the island is promoting and promoting the island in collaboration with the South Aegean Region. Indeed, the creation of a DMMO management and promotion organization was announced by the Municipality of Thira, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund. “It is a strategic move that will further enhance the sustainable tourism development of Santorini, helping to ensure the durability and attractiveness of the destination,” says Ms. Kefalogiannis.

Focusing on the opening of new markets, the minister says priorities for 2025 are, among other things, India, where EOT participated in February in a tourist exhibition in New Delhi, as well as other Asian markets, such as South Korea and Japan, as well as markets such as the United States. The US market is also particularly important, where a record of direct flights from the east coast was last year. “Our goal is to further develop on the west coast of the US,” says Ms. Kefalogiannis, and continues: “At the same time we place particular emphasis on promoting special forms of tourism and lesser -known destinations, traditional markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.”

Following is the full text of the interview of Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogiannis in RES-EIA and journalist Maria Tsivgeli

Q: How did this year start for Greek tourism and what are the main challenges? What are the messages from the international tourism market and airlines for 2025?

A: After two consecutive records, in 2025 he started dynamically for Greek tourism, with positive messages from the tourist market, while for January there was a significant increase in both travel traffic, over 10%and in receipts in relation to the corresponding month last year. It is an indication of the upward course of tourism during the winter months.

Our central goal, of course, is the qualitative development of Greek tourism. We are working on the spatial and time expansion of tourism activity in our country, to highlight less well -known destinations, to enrich the tourist offer, while ensuring the protection and promotion of our natural and cultural wealth.

So we can achieve multiple, long -term benefits from tourism for the national economy and local communities.

Q: What are the new target markets and how do the promotion and promotion plan implemented in new and existing markets?

A: In addition to strengthening our position in Europe’s markets, we certainly place special emphasis on new and emerging markets. Priorities for 2025 are, among other things, India, where EOT participated in a tourist exhibition in New Delhi in February, as well as other Asian markets, such as South Korea and Japan, as well as markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Also important is the US market, where we had a record of direct flights from the east coast last year. Our goal is to further develop on the west coast of the US.

At the same time we place particular emphasis on promoting special forms of tourism and lesser known destinations, traditional markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.

Q: You recently visited Santorini, at a critical time for the tourist destination. Can you tell us how to restore smoothness and ensure the smooth operation of tourism activity?

A: Santorini returns to regularity and remains a hospitable destination, ready for yet another dynamic tourist year.

Of course, the emergency measures of civil protection provided, inter alia, in the relevant joint ministerial decision on the ports and settlements of the island complex of Santorini, are in particular.

The safety of the islanders and visitors of the island is of course priority.

At the same time we are working to maintain the reputation of one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, a worldwide recognizable tourist brand.

The Ministry of Tourism and the EOT therefore support the attempt to maintain Santorini’s attractiveness as a top tourist destination.

All the digital tools of the Visit Greece platform will be utilized, while we are in the process of finalizing the special promotion and promotion plan of the island in collaboration with the South Aegean Region.

During our recent visit to the island, we have also announced the creation of a DMMO management and promotion organization by the Municipality of Thira, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund. It is a strategic move that will further enhance the sustainable tourism development of Santorini, helping to ensure the durability and attractiveness of the destination.

Q: How will the ministry win the bet of quality and sustainable development of Greek tourism and the expansion of the season throughout the year?

A: Our strategy is based on economic growth, along with environmental protection and safeguarding the well -being of local communities.

The priority is to invest in infrastructure and forms of tourism with low environmental footprint and high added value, which contribute substantially to the differentiation and enrichment of tourism supply and the strengthening of local economies.

Our strategy includes the promotion of a new model of management of our destinations, and for this purpose we provide incentives to set up destinations management and promotion organizations (DMMOS) at regional and local level. We strive to form a model of tourism government, which will cooperate with the central government, local government and the private sector.

We also place a special emphasis on upgrading the quality of tourism education and training in our country, and to this end we promote re -entry and upgrading of tourism workers’ skills programs, while also improving the framework for the operation of the Tourism Studies Schools.

At the same time, we are activating tools such as the National Observatory for Sustainable Tourism Development and the Coastal and Marine Tourism Observatory in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will therefore have a more complete collection of data and information, which will support policy preparation in medium and long -term framework.

With the aim of expanding tourism activity throughout the year and throughout the country, we are promoting specific forms of tourism, such as marine tourism, agrotourism and gastronomic tourism, mountain tourism and health and well -being.

We are therefore funding infrastructure upgrades, including tourist ports, ski resorts, thermal tourism and diving facilities, and we also develop digital platforms specially designed these special forms of tourism.

At the same time, we are proceeding with the total redesign of the country’s official travel portal, Visitgreece.gr, for the better and comprehensive promotion of the whole tourist contribution of our country.

With targeted policies, coordination and cooperation of all stakeholders, Greece can emerge as a model of sustainable tourism worldwide, offering authentic experiences with respect to the environment and local communities.

Q: What changes does the new law passed in January be brought to the House? How are the challenges brought by short -term lease to avoid other European cities?

A: The law we voted on last January is part of the overall strategy of the Ministry of Tourism on the qualitative development of Greek tourism in terms of viability.

Our interventions aim, among other things, to ensure the quality of hospitality and as a whole of the quality of tourism offer in our country.

In particular, in terms of real estate available for short -term leasing, new arrangements foresee operating specifications and safety standards for the first time.

Indicatively, real estate should be main use spaces and have natural lighting, ventilation and air conditioning. To have additional insurance for liability for damage or accidents that may be caused.

We have also established a framework for keeping these specifications controls by the services of the Ministry of Tourism or by mixed controls with AADE officials.

Our intervention comes in follow -up to previous government initiatives, such as the regulation of taxation of short -term real estate leases, with the aim of creating an environment of healthy competition in the field of hospitality.

Still, for the current year, and with the possibility of extension, no new registration is allowed in the short -term property register, in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Municipal District of Athens.

At the same time, we also brought other important arrangements such as the establishment of an innovative hotel accommodation system based on their environmental performance.

We have also modified the definition of ski resorts to enable them to develop activities throughout the year and when skiing is not possible. We also enabled the use of seafood water in swimming tanks of accommodation, with the aim of saving precious water resources.

Q: What initiatives did you take in the new cycle of the “Tourism for All 2025” program?

A: The new cycle of “Tourism for All” program aims to both enhance domestic tourism throughout the year and fair regional development.

So we have made a significant change in the program related to the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy for the time expansion of tourism activity in our country this year.

For the new cycle of the program, the draw was for two periods, the low and high period. The recipients who have chosen to use their card in the low period, ie until April 30, 2025 and from October to December, are subsidized with higher amounts.

Of course, as in the previous cycle, increased subsidy amounts for drawn up such as disabled and categories such as multi -parent, single parent families and retirees.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogiannis will participate in the 10th Delphi Economic Forum, which will take place from April 9 to April 12, 2025, in Delphi.