The European
Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and
the city of Athens are joining forces to stimulate tourism to the
capital of Greece, often referred to as the ‘cradle of Western
civilization’. On 22nd April a delegation of nearly 60
professional tour-operator-buyers, recruited byETOA,
will come to Athens for a familiarisation visit and to take part in a
workshop where each buyer will have a series of up to 32 meetings
with relevant local suppliers, such as hotels and visitor
attractions.
The
event, branded Travel
Trade Athens,
employs ETOA’s
appointment system, which offers a schedule of one-to-one meetings
based on the specific requirements of suppliers and buyers. For
Athens to incorporate this workshop element is a major development in
the engagement between a destination and the people who sell it
around the world.
As
well as such structured networking Travel
Trade Athens is
providing delegates with a familiarisation visit that includes stops
at the Benaki Museum, National Gardens, Greek Parliament and the new
Digital Planetarium. Lunch is served at the Aegli Zappiou
restaurant.
Tom
Jenkins,
Executive Director of ETOA says “ETOA
was founded by those companies that specialised in bringing clients
from around the world into Europe. These people sold cities,
their clients knowing that European city culture was unique.
Amongst European cities Athens stands proud. It has been a
must-see destination for three millennia and we welcome the
opportunity to showcase that.”
George
Broulias,
Member of the Athens City Council & President ofADDMA stressed
that: “The
City of Athens is delighted to host and co-organise the first Travel
Trade Athens workshop, in cooperation with the European Tour
Operators Association. Our cooperation with ETOA,
such an esteemed and high profile partner in the field of tourism
internationally, has proven to be a valuable asset to the City’s
effort to showcase Athens, effectively and reliably to the
international tourism professionals’ community.
The
City of Athens, in its effort to boost the City’s visitor economy
and establish Athens among the most popular destinations in Europe,
follows an enhanced strategic planning for marketing and promotion.
The Travel
Trade Athens series
constitutes a very important and valuable step towards achieving this
goal”.
