The role of Thessaloniki as an emerging international destination for tourists was highlighted by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Anna Karamanli, noting that the city has a “rare, precious mosaic of unique experiences” that makes it attractive to visitors. “With its student life, its excellent gastronomy, its vibrancy and pulse… there is no place like Thessaloniki,” she said. Speaking at the 20th Polytechnic Conference “Innovation and Development”, held in Thessaloniki, Ms Karamanli also referred to the key role of Northern Greece in general in the country’s development strategy and the contribution of tourism as a key driver of sustainable development.
Referring to the performance of Greek tourism, she recalled that 2025 was the best year ever, both in terms of arrivals and especially in terms of revenues, which reached 23.6 billion euros, while regarding the extension of the tourist season, she pointed out that “it was perhaps the biggest bet we had set… and we are winning it”. Regarding the management of the increased tourism demand, he stressed that “Greece is managing its growth with a plan, balance and responsibility. In destinations with high traffic and in peak periods, we are already implementing targeted policies and proactive planning.”
The Deputy Minister also stressed that the sustainable development of tourism is now based on reliable data and measurable results, with the use of modern digital tools and new forms of management. “In this context, projects such as the National and Regional Observatories for Sustainable Tourism Development, which are digitally linked and provide critical data for policy planning, are being promoted, as well as the redesign of the VisitGreece.gr platform, which incorporates Artificial Intelligence technologies to provide real-time information,” she noted.
In closing, the Deputy Minister of Tourism highlighted the strategic direction of Greek tourism, noting that “We are working with a plan and responsibility for a more qualitative and resilient tourism, developed with respect for the environment, culture and local communities”. As he stressed, the goal is a growth model that spreads the benefits fairly throughout the country, strengthening local economies and creating new opportunities for every region and every citizen.
