The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) will re-establish a direct presence in Australia with the opening of a new office in Melbourne, the Greek government has confirmed.
Speaking to the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President, Bill Papastergiadis, Greece’s Minister for Tourism Vassilis Kikilias confirmed GNTO would re-open its office at GCM’s Greek Centre building in Lonsdale Street in downtown Melbourne.
According to The Greek Herald, Minister Kikilias said it was “very important for us to add more markets so that we have travellers and tourists 12 months a year”.
“This is the target we are aiming for in Australia,” Kikilias added.
“It is crucial because it is on the other side of the world, another continent, and it has a significant Greek element.
“It is a market that has finally opened up after two years of restrictive measures brought on by the pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Papastergiadis stressed the importance of building connections between Australia and Greece, two countries with a lot in common.
“We share similar values and ideals and have large communities that will benefit from this new resource,” he said.
“The NGTO office will be ideally suited to the vibrant Greek Centre where it will proudly sit under the recently unveiled Parthenon Frieze replica and alongside the Australian head office of the National Bank of Greece.
Papastergiadis added that “it is a dream come true for us”.
“We are delighted with the Greek government’s decision to go ahead with the opening of the GNTO office at the Greek Centre as it is something we have been encouraging for eight years and finally, Minister Kikilias will make it happen.”
Last year, international travellers returned to Greece in a big way. But there was a warning that a return to normality would still be some way off.
Greek capital Athens was also among Flight Centre’s top 15 international destinations by flights booked in 2022.