The meeting of the National Tourism Development Management Council, held in Dubrovnik under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenković, and with the participation of ministers of the Croatian government, was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, who delivered a welcoming speech at the start of the proceedings, following the invitation of the Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Tonči Glavina.
The Minister underlined that the cooperation between Greece and Croatia reflects strong bonds of friendship, common priorities and a deep recognition of the key importance of tourism for the economic and social development of the two countries.
She also presented the course, successes and strategic vision of Greece in tourism, noting that our country in 2025 is once again recording historically high performances, after a record year in 2024, when Greece welcomed over 40 million travelers from abroad, including cruise passengers.
At the same time, already in the first nine months of 2025, a 9% increase in tourism receipts was recorded, which exceeded 20 billion euros, while the strong traffic in the winter months confirms the expansion of the tourist season.
The Minister emphasized that Greece has evolved into a destination of global appeal, the result of strategic planning, targeted investments and the excellent work of human resources, businesses and local communities.
She then highlighted the need for a balance between tourism development and the protection of the natural and cultural environment, underlining that Greece is implementing targeted interventions in this direction. Through resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the upgrading of tourism infrastructure, such as marinas, ski resorts, diving attractions and spa tourism infrastructure, is underway. At the same time, the visibility of lesser-known destinations is being enhanced and 12-month tourism is being actively promoted, while innovation and digital transformation are building blocks of the national tourism strategy.
The Minister pointed out that the aim is to highlight the uniqueness of Greek landscapes and the invaluable cultural wealth of the country, with respect for the needs of the people who live and create in the destinations. The sustainability and resilience of the tourism model require cooperation and substantial participation of local communities, which are the soul of every destination.
“Greece and Croatia are considered two strategic partners, with close ties in the bilateral context, but also within the framework of European institutions and the World Tourism Organization. The two countries share common values, interests and positions in the European Union and NATO, while the governments cooperate excellently, as do the Prime Ministers personally,” said Ms. Kefalogianni and added that “the Governments of the two countries cooperate excellently, as do you personally with the Greek Prime Minister.”
In this context, the Minister of Tourism of Greece and her Croatian counterpart, Mr. Tonči Glavina, committed to working together to promote joint initiatives, emphasizing the financing and shaping of the European Strategy for Tourism, which will be presented next year by the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
In closing, she pointed out that the cooperation between Greece and Croatia can be an example of creative cooperation in the wider region, as well as in the countries of the Western Balkans, whose accession to the European Union both countries support.