A familiarization trip to eastern Crete was successfully completed as part of the new Heraklion-Istanbul air connection
With the best impressions of the authentic hospitality, gastronomy, cultural heritage, and natural beauty of Crete, six Turkish journalists and influencers departed from the island after a five-day visit to eastern Crete, from 21 to 26 June 2025.
The familiarization trip was organized by the Tourism Directorate of the Region of Crete, in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization Office in Turkey, the Public Diplomacy Office, and the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul, on the occasion of the new direct Heraklion-Istanbul air connection of Aegean Airlines. The aim of the initiative was to boost tourism demand from Turkey and to promote Crete as a high-quality destination.
The guests – including journalists specializing in sustainability, fashion, and travel, as well as two chefs and two photographers with large social media followings – toured iconic locations in Heraklion and Lassithi. From the archaeological site of Knossos and the traditional Archanes to the picturesque Kritsa, Lake Voulismeni, and the historic island of Spinalonga, the participants had the opportunity to experience authentic experiences such as traditional Cretan cooking, wine tasting, perfume creation, sailing, and even golf.
The visit resulted in significant online exposure, as their impressions were posted on Instagram, Facebook, and other media, reaching over two million followers, directly contributing to the international promotion of Crete’s tourism product.
The framework for boosting tourist flows from the neighboring country is already positive. According to data from INSETE and the Bank of Greece, more than 1.2 million arrivals of Turkish visitors to the country were recorded in 2024. Further growth is expected in 2025, with air connections boosting not only the Turkish market, but also the markets of Southeast Asia – almost 2,000 arrivals for April and May 2025 have already been recorded via this specific route. In addition, the European Commission’s decision to grant express visas to Turkish citizens from December 2023 for ten Greek islands and 14 ports has contributed to this momentum.
In his statements, the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism of the Region of Crete, Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou, underlined the strategic importance of the action:
“Every hospitality of visitors from any country is an opportunity for Crete to create new ambassadors, one more when it comes to a market with growth and prospects, such as neighboring Turkey. For us, it is another journey of familiarization, for them a journey of life and experience that we enrich with our thematic architecture and our hospitality, which is the main advantage of Crete, everywhere!”.
For his part, the Regional Tourism Advisor in the Regional Administration of Lassithi, Michalis Klontzas, noted:
”Through this action, we contribute as the Region of Crete to the promotion of the comparative advantages of our island, and we work to attract high-value visitors from Turkey. The participating content creators had the opportunity to experience Cretan hospitality up close and capture some of the unique experiences that Crete offers.”
The success of this action confirms that targeted promotion, international collaborations, and quality tourism experience can create dynamic conditions for development and transform visitors into valuable ambassadors of Greek tourism abroad.