Case Study: Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation (TTO)

Thessaloniki Tourism Organization is a civil non-profit organization, the city’s official tourism board. The 8 entities that it is composed of are:

  • Regional Government of Central Macedonia
  • Municipality of Thessaloniki
  • Thessaloniki Hotels Association
  • Regional Development Fund
  • TIF - HELEXPO
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki
  • Thessaloniki Port Authority
  • Union of Municipalities

Acquiring a new brand name, “Many stories… One heart”, the city of Thessaloniki is proud of the tales it can tell, tales that are combined into a heart, beating loud and constantly for the past 23 centuries. 

 

Having this motto in his mind, TTO’s General Manager Mr. Nikos K. Sapountzis, along with his colleagues, aim to fulfill the organization’s objectives.

 

The primary objective is to promote the city of Thessaloniki in Greece and mainly abroad, in order to attract as many travelers and businessmen as possible, boosting in parallel the local economy and improving the quality of provided services.

 

As part of this effort, the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, with the help and support of local organizations and businesses, organized familiarisation trips, invited and hosted journalists and travel agents from around the world, brought them into contact with the local community, the Thessalonikeans’ way of life, traditions, customs, culture and the city’s long history.

 

Furthermore, TTO closed deals with large foreign public relation and destination marketing agencies, in order to promote the city in foreign printed and electronic press.

 

Also, TTO participated in many exhibitions of general and congress tourism all over the world, where the General Manager had meetings with specialist decision makers of tourism organizations, PCO’s, and citizens, presenting Thessaloniki’s beauties and advantages as a travel destination in the best way.

 

Additionally an excellent level of cooperation with Macedonia airport (SKG) and Thessaloniki Hotels Association has been developed, whilst monitoring arrivals and overnight stays data by nationality and trying to find ways of reaching new target markets, in association with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia Prefecture, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki, Helexpo, Thessaloniki Port Authority, Thessaloniki Convention & Visitors Bureau (T.C.V.B) and also with the local Association of Travel Agents, caterers, trade associations and others, achieving, in this way, its strategic objective, the economic and social growth of the entire region.

 

Moreover, the relationships with the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (G.N.T.O) offices in Greece and abroad were improved, and a memorandum of agreement between TTO and GNTO was signed.

 

In three years of operation, Thessaloniki Tourism Organization’s activities were:

 

1. City promotion through Thessaloniki Tourism Organization’s official website and its social networking websites.

 

2. Tourism Services

  • Information material management (publications, photos) of Thessaloniki’s Prefecture and Municipality, Thessaloniki Hotels Association, Thessaloniki Convention & Visitors Bureau (T.C.V.B), Greek National Tourism Organisation (G.N.T.O), City Museums, Organisation of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki (O.A.S.TH.), Wine Roads of Northern Greece etc and its distribution through tourism exhibitions, G.N.T.O. offices in Greece and abroad, Greek embassies, universities and city organizations.
  • The organization through its hotline (2310279282) and e-mail (welcome@thessaloniki.travel) provides support and information to the current and potential visitor of our city and wider area.
  • Also in cooperation with the union of tourist guides, professional tours are provided in different languages by expert guides-archaeologists, presenting the destination’s past and present in the best way.

 

3. Brand name presentation to local and press
On Monday 20/02/2012 a meeting with the local press was planned by the organization, in order to present the new Brand Name “Many stories… One heart…” and Friday 09/03/2012 an event was held in TCCI, presenting Thessaloniki’s logo to the city’s authorities aiming at its wide usage.

 

4. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the President of Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (T.T.O.) and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (G.N.T.O) on 26/01/2012.

 

5. On 2011 an agreement was signed by the President of T.T.O. and Ryanair, for linking Thessaloniki with 4 foreign destinations. The company today flies to 14 destinations abroad & 2 domestic, officially announcing the creation of an aircraft base in Macedonia Airport on spring 2014.

 

6. Participation in international tourism exhibitions

PHILOXENIA

18-21/11/2010

THESSALONIKI

EIBTM

31/11-02/12/2010

BARCELONA

TRAVEL TURKEY

07-12/12/2010

IZMIR

IMTM

07-09/02/2011

TEL AVIV

EMITT

10-13/02/2011

ISTANBUL

IFT

23-27/02/2011

BELGRADE

MITT

15-20/03/2011

MOSCOW

TUR

23-27/03/2011

GOTEBORG

EIBTM

31/11-02/12/2011

BARCELONA

EMITT

09-12/01/2012

ISTANBUL

IMTM

14-15/02/2012

TEL AVIV

HOLIDAY EXPO & SPA

16-18/02/2012

SOFIA

IFT

23-26/02/2012

BELGRADE

REISELIV

02-04/03/2012

OSLO

TRT

15-18/03/2012

BUCHAREST

MITT

21-24/03/2012

MOSCOW

ATM

30-04/04/2012

DUBAI

BITE

15-18/06/2012

BEIJING

PHILOXENIA

22-25/11/2012

THESSALONIKI

TRAVEL TURKEY

06-09/12/2012

IZMIR

EMITT

24-27/01/2013

ISTANBUL

IMTM

05-06/02/2013

TEL AVIV

IFT

21-24/02/2013

BELGRADE

 

The organization with the support of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (G.N.T.O), priced, programmed, organised and participated in the above exhibitions for free, booking the pavilions, sending printed and electronic material weighing a total of 8 tons, which were given out, indicating its presence by sending 9000 e-mails to TO’s & TA’s . Furthermore around 1500 personal appointments were made during these exhibitions, not only with agents, but also with journalists, local institutions, airlines, public relations agencies, PCO’S etc. The results were assessed and the necessary follow-up made.

 

7. Database

We’ve collected and edited the data of TO’s and TA’s and journalists, made contact in the exhibitions in which we’ve participated, as well as collecting the data of tourist agents from the following countries, from local GNTO offices and Greek embassies abroad:

SERBIA – TURKEY – BULGARIA – ROMANIA – RUSSIA – GERMANY –FRANCE – ENGLAND - IRELAND – DENMARK – SWEDEN – NORWAY – FINLAND – ISRAEL – NEDERLANDS - INDIA – U.A.E- CHINA

 

8. Delegations

 

WORKSHOP LOUVRE

10-12/01/2012

PARIS

INDIAN TRAVEL CONGRESS

12-14/02/2012

ISTANBUL

WESTERN PONTOS

30-02/06/2012

SAMSUN – SINOP –ORDY - BAFRA

TURKEY

26-29/08/2012

ANKARA

WORKSHOP BULGARIA

19-20/09/2012

SOFIA

 

9. Reception, hosting and guided tours of tourism businessmen and press.

Thessaloniki Tourism Organization in association with local Greek Embassies, GNTO offices in Greece and abroad, Central Macedonia Prefecture, Municipality of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Hotels Association, Thessaloniki Port Authority, Wine Roads, secretariat general of information and communication and private companies organized and carried out the following familiarization trips:

  • Marko Wramen - http://www.alltomresor.se, http://www.expressen.se/resor12-17/10/2010 - Sweden
  • 20 Spanish journalists - 30/3/2011 - Spain
  • Richard Green- Sunday Times - 1/4/2011 - England 
  • Serhan Yedig – Hurriyet - 2-4/4/2011- Turkey 
  • Marianthi Mylona – Cologne Radio - 15/4/2011- Germany 
  • John Malathronas –Rough Guide Greece – 1-6/5/2011- England 
  • 5 Russian journalists - 1 – 4/5/2011 - Russia 
  • James Williams –Ryanair Inflight Magazine - 5/5/2011 - England 
  • 15 German journalists - 6/5/2011 - Germany
  • Peter Geoghegan - Irish Independent - 16-19/5/2011 - Ireland
  • Israeli journalist - 20/5/2011- Israel
  • 40 Israeli TO’s - 20/5/2011 - Israel
  • 7 Israeli journalists & 1 TO - 21/5/2011 - Israel
  • Thomas Veser - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Suddeutsche Zeitung, Neue, Zurcher Zeitung,Wienner Zeitung - 20-26/5/2011 - Germany, Austria ,Switzerland 
  • Jamie Lau - 27-29/5/2011 - Ryanair Inflight Magazine - England
  • Bettina Figl -Wiener Zeitung - 5-7/6/2011 - Austria 
  • 25 Chinese TO’s - 7/6/2011 - China 
  • Paul Robert –Financiele Dagblad, Readers Digest – 11/6/2011 - Nederland 
  • 10 French TO’s and 3 journalists - 16-19/6/2011 - France
  • 9 Romanian journalists - 17-19/6/2011 - Romania 
  • 10 French journalists and 3 Louvre delegates - 19-23/6/2011 - France
  • 4 Bulgarian journalists and 1 TO 24-26/6/2011 - Bulgaria 
  • 20 Russians TO’s - 1/7/2011 Russia
  • Gay Fam Trip (LGBT) – German journalists and TO’s –03/09/2011 – Germany
  • 80 Israeli journalists - 07/09/2011 – Israel
  • Μrs. Zinder – Israeli journalist - 13/09/2011 – Israel
  • 12 Turkish journalists – 30/09/2011 - Turkey
  • 6 Russian journalists - 10/10/2011 - Russia
  • 8 Italian journalists (Conde Nast, Bell Europa) - 13/11/2011 - Italy
  • Giorgos Archimandritis - French Radio – 06-11/11/2011 - France
  • 19 Italian TO’s from the travel agency Amphitrion – 19/01/2012
  • 17 Turkish journalists from well-known Turkish channels - 17-20/02/2012 -Turkey
  • Tursab delegation of 20 travel agents, members, Tursab President escorts and members of the Board of Directors - 28/02/2012
  • Thermal Springs - 05/03/2012
  • 80 Foreign journalists invited by the TIFF - 07/03/2012
  • 45 wine testers (sommeliers) within the frameworks of the “Thessaloniki Wine Competition” exhibition- 08/03/2012
  • 100 press CDs for the promotion of the city’s Brand Name - 09/03/2012
  • 150 CDs for the Organization’s participation in Indian Travel Congress - 10/03/2012
  • Hosting of 6 students from the Turin University of Gastronomic Sciences within the frameworks of the Wine Festival - 11-17/03/2012 
  • 12 Turkish journalists from Τursab – 13/03/2012
  • 5 French TOs from Hellenic Island Services - 14/03/2012
  • 5 Czech journalists from a television broadcast – 22/03/2012
  • 15 Turkish delegates from Samsun - 29/03/2012
  • 2 Turkish journalists from the travel agency Tura Turizm - 02/04/2012
  • 9 English journalists from Easy Jet - 16/04/2012
  • 40 officials from the municipality of St Petersburg - 09/04/2012
  • 3 English journalists from Travel Channel - 21/04/2012
  • Swiss VIP hosting – 15/05/2012
  • Hosting Romanian ΤΟ’s Mrs. Cora Gavrila from Cristian Travel
  • Mr. Olivo Francesco – journalist LEGGO Newspaper – 18/05/2012
  • 17 Chinese journalists and ΤΟs - 01/06/2012
  • 20 Austrian agents from TUI AUSTRIA – 07/06/2012
  • 12 German journalists - 12/06/2012
  • 4 French journalists from TV France 24–22/06/2012
  • Journalist & travel agent from Bahrain (Μr. Ali Mushaima) – 10/07/2012
  • Fam Trip of ΙΑΤΟ (Indian Association Travel Organisation) President and colleagues - 19-23/07/2012
  • 50 embassy consulates – 18/09/2012
  • University of Macedonia (Use-it maps for Erasmus students) – 27/09/2012
  • 4 Dutch journalists – 28/09/2012
  • Religious Fam Trip – 18 English – 02/10/2012
  • 18 Comenius Professors– 11/10/2012
  • 25 Bulgarian ΤΟ’s in association with Sofia BNTO – 10-11/11/2012
  • Israeli agent (Mr. Mushaev Nissan) - Πραγματοποίηση κράτησης 250 pax. for 11 nights, in a city’s hotel, for the first time, on occasion of the Jewish Passover – 02-05/12/2012
  • 25 correspondents from abroad, within the frameworks of the Thessaloniki documentary festival – 30/11/2012
  • 12 Belgian journalists in association with the Dutch Belgian and Luxembourgian NTO – April 2013
  • Mrs. Gilli Mazza- Israel – Freelance Photojournalist-ARTIST – June 2013
  • 3 Argentinean journalists from the national TV – June 2013

 

10. Television

  • Hosting and guided tour of a 7 member TV crew of the American EXTRA network, part of the NBC Group, for the shooting of the tv show Mansions & Millionaires, with 2.500.000 viewers.
  • Hosting and guided tour of a 7 member American TV crew of the DMG Productions Company for the shooting of two episodes of the “The Cooking Odyssey” show aiming to promote the city through its gastronomy, to 8.000.000 American viewers.
  • Interview on “Radio Thessaloniki” with the topic of tourism in our city.
  • Interview on “Real Fm”, “Sport Fm” and on “ΕΤ-3” on the topic of Gay Tourism & entrepreneurship workshop.
  • Interview on ΤV 100 on the topic Branding & Food Festival
  • Press conference on the “breakfast with a view” show for the tourism growth of Thessaloniki.
  • Hosting and guided tour of a 4 member TV crew of the French ARTE TV network, for the shooting of a television program.
  • Hosting and guided tour of a 4 member TV crew, for the production of two shows titled «Vents du Large» and «Grand Large» which will be broadcast by France 24, Men’s Up TV and TV5 MONDE. 
  • Hosting and guided tour of the public channel TRT crew, and an interview as well with journalist Mrs. Asli Seda Kement
  • Contact sponsorship of the Greek-Turkish documentary titled “Τhe Amazing Journey”.
  • Hosting and guided tour of the Russian TV crew RTR and interview.
  • Hosting and guided tour of a 3 member TV crew from Argentina with an interview given, which was broadcast by the Argentinean national channel.

 

11. Publications – Features – Articles – References

Up until today the following articles about Thessaloniki have been published in printed and electronic media in Greece and abroad:

ABROAD

  • Daily Mirror - 11/3/2011 - England 
  • New Magazine - 20/3/2011 - England
  • Hurriyet - 11/4/2011 - (4page mayor’s interview) - Turkey 
  • Ryanair Inflight Magazine – April’s issue - England 
  • Dosier Grecia – 23page web feature – 4/2011 – Spain & Latin America
  • Wiener zeitung - 10/5/2011 - (mayor’s interview) - Austria 
  • Vie del Gusto Magazine - 5/2011 - Italy 
  • City FM – Russian Radio - 5/2011 - Russia
  • http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/may/29/greece.thessaloniki-culture - 29/5/2011 – England 
  • Standart - 24/6/2011 - Bulgaria
  • LEGGO Newspaper – May’s issue - Italy
  • Cedar Wings- January 2012 (Seduisante Thessaloniki) – In-flight Magazine of Lebanon national airlines.
  • In-flight Magazine of Romanian airline company ΤAROM
  • The Lure of Greece, The Jewish Chronicle-Angela Epstein – 11/10/2012
  • In-flight Magazine of Aegean Airlines
  • Eurobonus Traveler Thessaloniki – May 2013
  • Νational Geographic, Iconic Greece– James Connaway-30/05/2013
  • Scanorama Thessaloniki, A hard day’s night- Caroline Hainer-June 2013
  • The Independent, 48 hours in: Thessaloniki- Simon Calder- 08/06/2013
  • Radio show “6 o’clock with Itchi Yosha” of the 2nd program of Israeli Radio, with an interview with journalist & photographer Gilli Mazza – 27/06/2013

GREECE

In Greece approximately 100 articles have been published in the following newspapers, blogs and sites referring to our actions with praise:

 

12. support of conferences- organizations – events – contests – exhibitions

  • Christmas Magic City – December 2010-2012 – HELEXPO – Thessaloniki.
  • Printed material was distributed and event promoted on TTO’s webpage, on facebook and on twitter.
  • International cooking contest - March 2011 - Belgrade - Serbia 
  • Printed material supplied to the chef’s club of Northern Greece "OLYMPIAN ZEUS".
  • International architectural conference - 25 February 2011 
  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, printed material supplied.
  • PHILOXENIA 2011 - Thessaloniki – Supply of ΤΑ & TO data for the better organization of Hosted Buyers Program 2011.
  • Official declaration of the hosting in Thessaloniki of the world MAXI BASKETBALL tournament, in June 2011, with the participation of 4000 people for a week. Printed material was sent to the city o Natal in Brazil, where the declaration took place - June 2011.
  • National Tourism Fair June 2011 – Edirne - Turkey. Printed material supplied to the Greek Embassy in Edirne. 
  • International conference of International society for music education –ISME- July 2012 - Thessaloniki - participating 2500 people for a week.
  • Guide disposition, City tour and a 30 person dinner, for the ISME board of directors and executive Committees - July 2011
  • The American college “Anatolia” provided Choir support and TTO supplied electronic and printed material.
  • Printed and electronic material dispatched to the city of Puerto Montt of Chile and to Kaunas of Lithuania in 2012. Hosting in Thessaloniki of the world MAXI BASKETBALL tournament, in July 2013, with the participation of 4000 people for a week.
  • Press conference during the exhibition “Holiday Expo & Spa” in Sofia, with the topic “The Land of Alexander the Great”.
  • Collaboration with the Medical Association of Thessaloniki to organize a conference with the topic “Medical Tourism”, 2012
  • Children’s drawing contest in association with Sofia’s NTO “Greece through the eyes of children”.
  • Support of TEDX event.
  • Support of the “Marketing Convention” conference by the TEI of Thessaloniki 13-15/06/2012.
  • Support the research committee of Aristoteles University for its participation in the “The 3rd International Exhibition” in the city of Riyadh of Saudi Arabia, where they introduced Thessaloniki as a travel destination.
  • Support of the IMEX exhibition in Frankfurt, in 2012.
  • Support of the International Trade Fair “Womex 2012”, which took place on November, promoting tourist packages of Macedonian organizations.
  • Support and promotion of City Tours operated in our city by the following companies:
  1. Sightseeing Thessaloniki
  2. Thessaloniki City Walks
  3. City Break Thessaloniki
  • Support of the “Open House” event in 2012 & 2013, where a list of historical buildings in Thessaloniki was introduced.

 

13. Collaboration with:

  • Minister of Tourism
  • Secretary General of GNTO 
  • President and General Manager of HELEXPO 
  • President of TCCI
  • President of OASTH
  • Director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival
  • Director of the Archaeological Museum
  • Director of the Museum of Byzantine Culture
  • Director of Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Director of NOESIS
  • Airport Master 
  • President of TCVB
  • President of the Hotels Association of Halkidiki & Tourism Organization of Halkidiki
  • Mount Athos Area Organization
  • 9th Byzantine Antiquities Regional Office
  • Thessaloniki's Integrated Transport Authority
  • 16th Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Regional Office
  • President of the Association of Travel Agencies of Macedonia-Thrace
  • President of the Tourism Federation of Northern Greece
  • President of Restaurant Owners Association
  • General Manager of DEPTHE 
  • Travel Plan 
  • Artion
  • Amphitrion Tours
  • Simvoli
  • Meli Tours
  • Philos Travel

 

14. Formal Invitations

  • Meeting with the consul general and vice consul of Serbia
  • Meeting with the consul general of Turkey 
  • Meeting with the consul general Of Germany
  • Meeting with the honorary consul of Jordan
  • Meeting with the consul general of Bulgaria
  • Meeting with the consul general of Romania
  • Meeting with the consul general of France
  • Meeting with the consul general of Russian Federation

 

15. Workshops participations

  • Mount Athos Center - 23 March 2011 – Religious tourism.
  • Greek-Italian Chamber - 14 April 2011 – Tourism promotion of Thessaloniki.
  • Organized tourism workshop – Tourist guide of Thessaloniki – in association with the Science Center and Technology Museum "NOESIS" - 16/05/2012.

 

16. Meeting with German parliament members

TTO arranged on 2nd of May 2011 a workshop with 10 German tourism commission members of the German parliament (Bundestag).

 

17. Welcoming of the first Ryanair flights

TTO received at the Macedonia Airport on April 12 2011, the first ever flights of Ryanair from Frankfurt and Oslo and gave out informational material to the passengers.

 

18. Meeting with the Turkish Airlines Director in Thessaloniki

On Thursday 30 June 2011 a meeting took place with the Turkish Airlines Director in Thessaloniki Mr. Utku Yasan, discussing Thessaloniki’s promotion through his company and written suggestions were submitted.

 

19. Meeting with local authorities

On Thursday 19 May 2011, a meeting was arranged by the TTO with all the local authorities, with the participation of 13 mayors of neighboring municipalities, about the tourism promotion of Thessaloniki, and their intention to join the cause of TTO.

 

20. Creation of a city guide in association with GNTO

Collaboration with GNTO’s journalist, for the creation of a city guide

 

21. Seminar

Seminar attendance with the subject “Sales in the Turkish market”

 

22. Committees participations

  • OTT participated in meetings with Central Macedonia authorities in the prefecture and municipality of Thessaloniki, for the organization of parallel events in Paris, during the exhibition about Macedonia, which would be held in the Louvre. Furthermore by the president’s order a 4 person committee was established, including Mr. Sapountzis, in order to get the matter fast tracked. The said exhibition was held with great success, since the number of visitors reached 450.000 by the end of 2011. 
  • Participation in the Food Festival committee – November 2011
  • Association group with municipality of Veroia
  • The Hellenic Confederation of Professionals & Merchants
  • Professional Chamber

 

23. Case study preparation

On Tuesday 19 April 2011, a Marketing plan was filed to the board, by the organization’s General Manager, Mr. Nikos Sapountzis, which was prepared by him, for more essential tourism promotion of Thessaloniki, but also for the better operation of TTO.

 

24. Filed applications in programs

  • TOPEKO - TREK CONSULTING “Partnership for the enhancement of employment and the advancement of innovative entrepreneurship of susceptible social groups in Thessaloniki’s field of tourism”.
  • TOPEKO – KEK DIAVALKANIKO “Growth – employment Prefecture of Thessaloniki”.
  • TOPSA – E.P. “Human resources development, City Tourism, employment in the historical centre of Thessaloniki”.
  • TOPSA – E.P. “Human resources development 2007-2013”
  • TOPSA – KEK DIAVALKANIKO “Tourism growth and related activities in Thessaloniki”
  • GREECE - FYROM
  • GREECE BULGARIA - (Integrated system for the improvement and upgrading of the strategic and operational planning of tourism policy. Creation of modern structure and tools for the public services used by visitors), and acronym “Dias Net”

 

25. Participation in programs

  • GREECE BULGARIA - (Integrated system for the improvement and upgrading of the strategic and operational planning of tourism policy. Creation of modern structure and tools for the public services used by visitors), and acronym “Dias Net”
  • TOPSA – E.P. “Human resources development, City Tourism, employment in the historical centre of Thessaloniki”.
  • TOPSA – E.P. “Human resources development 2007-2013”

 

26. Audiovisual material collection and copyright license agreement at the same time for the usage of it, by the following Organization:

  • Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art 
  • Thessaloniki Museum of Byzantine Culture
  • Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum
  • Vergina Museum
  • Fοlklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia-Thrace
  • 9th Byzantine Antiquities Regional Office
  • 16th Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Regional Office
  • Thessaloniki Cinema Museum
  • Thessaloniki International Film Festival
  • Thessaloniki Concert Hall Organization
  • Parallaxi Magazine
  • ET-3
  • TV 100
  • NOESIS
  • GNTO

 

27. Participation in the press conference of Volotea airlines for the linking of Thessaloniki-Venice 19/03/2012.

 

28. Participation in the press conference of “Thessaloniki Open House 2012”

 

29. Participation in the Turkish Airlines press conference – additional flights announced

 

30. Speech at the Macedonia and Thrace Hotel Directors’ Association conference, during the international tourism exhibition ‘’Philoxenia 2012”, with the topic “contemporary trends and prospects of tourism industry”.

 

31. Events organization

  • Biennale – Young Mediterranean Artists – October 2011
  • Food Festival – Thessaloniki Film Festival – November 2011
  • Homo Evolution – November 2011

 

32. Letters of Thanks

  • ΤURSAB President, Mr. Basaran Ulusoy.
  • Producer of the “Μansions & Millionaires” show, Mr. Vasileios Panagiotidis.
  • Secretariat General of Information & Communication, Director Mrs. Zakynthinaki.
  • Press office of Greek Embassy in Moscow, Tourism consult Mr. Nikos Papakonstantinou.
  • Mrs.Marina Chernykh, of TV KULTURA.
  • Head of the GNTO office in Nederland, Belgium Luxemburg, Mrs. Helen Skarveli.

The results of the above efforts are reflected in the statistical data announced by the Thessaloniki Hotels Association concerning the overnight stay travelers both Greeks and foreigners in the years 2010-2011-2012-2013, and, as presented in the charts below, there is a clear increase in foreign tourism.

 

 

THE TWENTY FIRST NATIONALITIES JANUARY – DECEMBER 2013

CLASSIFICATION OF FOREIGNERS 2013

COUNTRY

NIGHTS

2013

NIGHTS
2012

CHANGE
2012-2013

 

GREECE

952.599

865.857

10,02%

1

RUSSIA

90.071

59.512

51,35%

2

CYPRUS

76.029

72.153

5,37%

3

ΤURKEY

71.437

47.583

50,13%

4

ΙSRAEL

48.477

40.220

20,53%

5

USA

44.319

40.883

8,40%

6

ΙΤΑLY

44.084

43.854

0,52%

7

GERMANY

41.020

35.436

15,76%

8

ΒULGARIA

40.872

36.875

10,84%

9

ROMANIA

40.495

25.749

57,27%

10

SERBIA
&
ΜONTENEGRO

38.572

27.827

38,61%

11

UNITED KINGDOM

23.588

22.848

3,24%

12

ALBANIA

23.375

20.871

12%

13

FRANCE

20.297

20.420

-0,60%

14

LIBYA

19.335

148.021

-86,94%

15

FYROM

15.533

13.337

16,47%

16

UKRAINE

14.887

10.785

38,03%

17

ΑUSTARALIA

12.650

10.371

21,97%

18

POLAND

12.275

7.998

53,48%

19

SPAIN

8.910

11.319

-21,28%

20

HOLLAND

8.475

8.426

0,58%

 

THE TWENTY FIRST NATIONALITIES JANUARY – DECEMBER 2012

CLASSIFICATION OF FOREIGNERS 2012

COUNTRY

NIGHTS

2012

NIGHTS
2011

CHANGE
2011-2012

 

GREECE

836.803

946.336

-11,57%

1

LIBYA

146.937

19.261

662,87%

2

CYPRUS

71.799

56.770

26,47%

3

RUSSIA

59.248

39.486

50,05%

4

ΤURKEY

46.790

36.629

27,74%

5

ΙTALY

43.321

47.015

-7,86%

6

USA

40.278

42.168

-4,48%

7

ΙSRAEL

39.387

59.064

-33,31%

8

ΒULGARIA

36.283

33.763

7,46%

9

GERMANY

34.569

36.478

-5,23%

10

SERBIA
&
ΜONTENEGRO

27.612

32.723

-15,62%

11

ROMANIA

25.428

26.265

-3,19%

12

UNITED KINGDOM

22.419

22.680

-1,15%

13

ALBANIA

20.652

29.744

-30,57%

14

FRANCE

19.746

18.736

5,39%

15

FYROM

13.272

11.594

14,47%

16

SPAIN

10.813

10.211

5,90%

17

UKRAINE

10.529

5.723

83,98%

18

ΑUSTRALIA

10.334

9.363

10,37%

19

HOLLAND

8.315

8.543

-2,67%

20

POLAND

7.881

12.298

-35,92%

 

THE TWENTY FIRST NATIONALITIES JANUARY – DECEMBER 2011

CLASSIFICATION OF FOREIGNERS 2011

COUNTRY

NIGHTS

2011

NIGHTS
2010

CHANGE
2010-2011

 

GREECE

 

 

 

1

LIBYA

19.261

86

22.296,51%

2

ΙSRAEL

59.064

13.551

335,86%

3

EGYPT

3.925

1.278

207,12%

4

ΝΟRWAY

4.404

1.665

164,50%

5

UKRAINE

5.723

2.939

94,73%

6

ALBANIA

29.744

18.095

64,38%

7

RUSSIA

39.486

24.250

62,83%

8

DENMARK

3.250

2.010

61,69%

9

SWEDEN

6.143

4.028

52,51%

10

FYROM

11.594

7.607

52,41%

11

USA

42.168

27.745

51,98%

12

SPAIN

10.211

7.451

37,04%

13

ΤURKEY

36.629

26.853

36,41%

14

ΙΤΑLY

47.015

 

35.522

32,35%

15

FRANCE

18.736

15.289

22,55%

16

SERBIΑ
&
MONTENEGRO

32.723

27.519

18,91%

17

ROMANIA

26.265

22.253

18,03%

18

BULGARIA

33.763

29.976

12,63%

19

ΑUSTRALIA

9.363

8.313

12,63%

20

UNITED KINGDOM

22.680

20.250

12%