With the participation of 56 travel agents and tour operators from Saudi Arabia, the “Greek Luxury Tourism & Gastronomy Workshop” by Tourism Media & Events was held at the Marriott Hotel in Riyadh on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The aim of the event was to strengthen bilateral tourism relations between the two countries, as well as to facilitate the conclusion of agreements ahead of 2026.
It is noted that the event was organized under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) as the main sponsor, while the Region of Crete and the Development Agency of the City of Athens, This is Athens, also participated.
The newly appointed Ambassador of Greece to Riyadh, Ms. Aikaterini Varvarigou, honored the participants with her presence and addressed the audience with a welcome speech.
It is widely recognized that Greece is increasingly being promoted internationally as a destination that combines luxury and authenticity. New investments in high-end hotel infrastructure, the promotion of Greek gastronomy through local products, modern wellness services, and personalized hospitality experiences place the country among the top choices for discerning travelers — including those from the Middle East. At the same time, the growing interest of the Saudi market in Greece is confirmed by the strengthening of direct air connections and the increase in available capacity at Greek airports.
In the context of the event, targeted B2B meetings were held between leading Greek tourism enterprises and destinations, on the one hand, and Saudi travel agents and tour operators, on the other, strengthening the prospects for new partnerships and further growth of travel flows to Greece.
Following the completion of the professional meetings, presentations were delivered by the Region of Crete, presented by Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou, Deputy Governor for Tourism; by the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, represented by Ms. Lena Stefanoudaki, Head of the Business Support Office; and by Mideast Travel Worldwide, presented by Ms. Katerina Mousbeh, General Manager.
Sponsors of the event included the Chania Chamber of Commerce, the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. AEGEAN Airlines was the official airline sponsor, while Tourismtoday.gr served as the communication sponsor.
It should be noted that the international events program of Tourism Media & Events for 2025 concludes with the Greek Tourism Workshop in Vienna, Austria — a market of special importance for Greek tourism — on December 15, 2025.