Greece and Colombia have taken a significant step toward expanding their bilateral ties by signing a Memorandum of Intent focused on tourism cooperation. The agreement was finalized in Athens by Greek Deputy Minister of Tourism Anna Karamanli and Colombian Ambassador Ligia Quessep, marking the first formal tourism pact between the two nations.
Recognizing tourism as a vital catalyst for economic growth, the framework sets up mutual exchanges in digital innovation, hospitality education, and sustainable destination management. It also targets niche markets such as cultural, eco-, and culinary tourism. The initiative directly aligns with Athens’ broader international strategy to actively diversify its traditional source markets.
Deputy Minister Karamanli highlighted Latin America as a key, untapped market for Greece’s long-haul travel strategy, noting that Colombian travelers are a perfect fit for Greece’s heritage and culinary offerings. By building these strategic partnerships, Greece aims to capture affluent, long-haul tourists seeking authentic, premium cultural experiences.
Ambassador Quessep expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that Colombia looks forward to learning from Greece’s established success in global tourism to enhance its own domestic sector.
