Greece is preparing to travel to Australia as part of a major outreach initiative that aims to further strengthen ties between the two countries in the areas of tourism, entrepreneurship, gastronomy, and Greek production.
The major event is scheduled for the end of February 2027 and is expected to bring the Greek tourism market to the Australian market, as well as a curated selection of Greek and Cretan products.
Leonidas Babanis, speaking to Politica on behalf of the organisers, revealed the news while outlining the key pillars of an initiative aimed at building new bridges between Greece and Australia.
Preparations are already at an advanced stage, and the final details for the program, participants, and parallel events are expected to be finalised in the near future.
Australia, a market of particular importance to Greece
The choice of Australia is not accidental.
Beyond the significant strength of the Australian tourism market, the country has one of the strongest and most active Greek diaspora communities outside of Greece.
Hundreds of thousands of people of Greek origin maintain strong ties to their homeland, while family, cultural and emotional ties with Greece remain particularly vibrant.
This creates a significant advantage for the further development of tourism, but also for the promotion of Greek products in the Australian market.
The event essentially attempts to capitalise on these ties and transform them into new opportunities for collaboration.
B2B meetings in focus
Particular emphasis is expected to be placed on B2B meetings, which will be one of the main pillars of the event.
Representatives of Greek tourism and business sectors will have the opportunity to meet directly with Australian travel agents, businesspeople and other industry professionals.
The goal is not simply another presentation of Greece, but rather the establishment of specific professional contacts that can develop into real partnerships.
At the same time, events and promotional activities are expected to showcase Greece not only as a popular tourist destination, but as a place offering unique experiences, culture, hospitality, gastronomy and high-quality products.
Crete with a special role
Crete is expected to have a special place in the event.
The island has a particularly strong tourism product, while Cretan food and its products have gained significant international recognition.
At the same time, Crete has left its own mark on Australia’s Greek community.
The Cretan presence in Australia has deep roots, with organisations, clubs and families keeping traditions alive and maintaining ties to their homeland.
Crete also plays a special role in the ecclesiastical life of the Greek diaspora, as Archbishop Makarios, the head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Makarios, hails from Crete.
From Greek destinations to Greek products
One of the interesting elements of the initiative is the effort to connect tourism with Greek production and gastronomy.
The logic is simple but particularly important: the visitor not only gets to know a place, but also comes into contact with its taste, tradition and products.
Thus, promoting Greece in Australia can take on a much broader dimension, presenting a complete Greek “package”: destinations, hospitality, culture, gastronomy and products.
For Greek businesses, the Australian market represents a significant opportunity, especially when their business presence is accompanied by the history and strong emotional capital that the Greek diaspora has built up over the years.
A bridge between Greece and Australia
The coming weeks are expected to be crucial for the finalisation of the program, participations and the accompanying events.
The aim, however, is more than just another tourism expo.
The February 2027 initiative aspires to serve as a meaningful bridge between Greece and Australia, leveraging the strong ties of the Greek diaspora and creating new opportunities in tourism, entrepreneurship and Greek production.
And within this bridge, Crete is expected to make its own distinct and leading mark.