Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Greece’s tourism minister has said that his country “cannot survive” without Italy. Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni went on to add: “We need your help.” Speaking during her visit to Rome, Kefalogianni said that Italy remains a key player in Greece’s tourism. During a round of interviews with leading Italian media, the minister underlined that Italy remains one of Greece’s major source markets, bringing layered benefits to the country’s tourism sector. It followed her participation at the “Bridging Destinations” international forum hosted by Italy’s Ministry of Tourism and bringing together the southeastern European countries, reaffirming the cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism.
“We consider Italy one of our most important partners and see Italian arrivals exceeding two million tourists in Greece by 2024,” Kefalogianni said. That’s about 5% of Greece’s entire international arrivals, she said. This number shows how popular Greece has become for Italian holidaymakers and how strong the ties between the two countries are in the sector of tourism.
Growth in Italian Arrivals
Record of these is a growing trend of Italian holidaymakers traveling in Greece beyond the conventional peak August period, the minister added. “We are enjoying widespread growth, particularly in the off-peak months,” Kefalogianni said. In 2024, official statistics for the first five months of the year indicate that Italian arrivals have surged by an impressive 60%, in contrast to the same time period in 2023. Italian visitation was pumping well into the fourth quarter as it grew by almost 20%.
This increasing tendency emphasizes a change in travel preferences, as Italians are searching for more types of travel in Greece, during a larger period than just summer. Quite early indications for 2025 are also very positive; it would appear to be on track to follow the trend. “We are positive about the future and looking forward to a further increase in Italian tourists in Greece,” Kefalogianni said, citing a rosy picture for 2016.
This rise in number of Italian visitors was part of an increase seen across the Greek tourism industry, which had one of its best years on record. “We’re seeing bookings for the summer growing by the day,” Grigoris Tassios, president of the Greek hoteliers’ association in Kavala, said, ( “Everyone — including us — is looking to the north for a breath of freedom.” ) Having missed the past year, Greeks want it all at once, he added.
Italian-Greek Friendship Gets Ever Closer
Minister Kefalogianni’s visit to Rome has so far been quite positive. It was said that the issue of the two countries moving forward to promote stronger ties between the two neighbors was encouraged. “What we are hoping to do is invest heavily to further promote partnerships with the Italian travel industry,” she said. This commitment reflects the enduring ties between Greece and Italy, based on common values, trust, and a rich cultural heritage.
Kefalogianni reminded that the cooperation between the two countries doesn’t only mean about tourism, but stretches to many fields such as trade, culture, and education. “It is our shared journey together to unite and strengthen the family of our people,” she said. Both Croatia and Portugal have a strong cultural background and share many interests in keeping tradition alive and adapting to the modern trends of tourism. With the ongoing partnership, Greece aspires to provide Italian visitors with more varied and added value travel options.
The minister also referred to Greece’s determination to continue the work being done in recent years to rebrand Greece not just as a summer destination but also as an attractive all-year destination for tourists – in particular, the Italians. “Our vision is to expand the tourism product in Greece so that the country can be a destination 12 months a year,” she said, adding that the support of Italy’s tourism industry professionals is pivotal in our efforts.
The Road Ahead Regarding Greece-Italy Tourism Cooperation
Peering into the future, Kefalogianni said she is optimistic that tourism relations between Greece and Italy are on an upward trajectory. The role of cooperation in promoting economic growth through tourism has long been recognised by the two countries, and continues to advance. The Minister pointed out that Greece plans to build on the travel experience provided to Italian travelers with new destinations and cultural events, as well as more stereotypical outgoing packages.
There is even potential for greater collaboration in digital tools and travel industry innovations. With technology upending the tourism trade, Greece and Italy try out new methods of enhancing a visitor’s experience, including trying to streamline booking systems and finding new ways to convey the cultural and natural beauty of Greece.
A Great Future for Greek Tourism
When Minister Kefalogianni finished, she could hardly hide her excitement concerning the future and tourism for both countries. The increasing number of visits by Italian tourists to Greece is evidence of the robust Greece-Italy tourism cooperation. It also mirrors overall EU tourism trends, from which more and more holidaymakers consider Greece as one of the top-of-the-list destinations for a combination of culture and good-quality vacationing.
The extended co-operation between Greece and Italy in the field of tourism is an exceptional example of international collaboration, achieving common goals for a better and prosperous future for their peoples, enterprises, and tourism. Reclaiming their sense of destiny, Greece and Italy have a lot of joint history and, as Greece peers once again forward to the future, you can bet that their relationship with Italy will ensure that the country stays at the top of everyone’s must-visit list for the foreseeable future.
(Source: Greek Ministry of Tourism, Italy’s Ministry of Tourism, Hellenic Statistical Authority)
