ASTA Destination EXPO 2018 kicks off in Athens today - exclusive interviews, videos

ASTA Destination EXPO 2018, a major event for Greek tourism and its promotion in the vast United States market kicks off in Athens this weekend.

Tornos News will be be present during all events and fully cover the conference.

The conference will take place in Athens on 14-17 April, after strenuous efforts by the Federation of Greek Travel and Tourism Associations, FedHATTA, and it is expected to boost arrivals of American tourists in Greece in coming years.

More than 500 international delegates and more than 350 US tour operators will take part in the conference which  represents a historic opportunity for even more intensive cooperation between Greek and US professionals, to ensure mutual benefits through the promotion of Greece as a travel destination.

The main activities of Destination EXPO 2018 will be held on Monday at the Hilton Hotel and all four days of the conference will be feature  b2b meetings between Greek and American tour operators as well as numerous fam trips and events that will immerse  the American tour operators in the culture, gastronomy and authentic hospitality offered by Greece.

It is indicative that US travel agents will have the opportunity to participate in a total of 65 visits, excursions and cruises throughout Greece. In Athens, they will have the opportunity to participate in guided tours offered by the Athens Walking Tours.

The official Opening Ceremony will take place on the morning of Sunday, April 15, at the The Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The ceremony will be inaugarated by the Greek Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura, the event will incude musical performances by soprano Anastasia Zani accompanied by the Hellenic Navy Orchestra and will be attended by all delegates, relevant bodies representatives, eminent personalities of the Greek tourism sector as well as FedHATTA members.

On the evening of Sunday, April 15, the American Tourist Agents will be welcomed by the Athens Municipality Philharmonic Band during an official dinner that will be organized in their honor at the Zappeion Megaron with special flavors of traditional Greek gastronomy offered by the Acropolis Chefs Club of Attica

The delegates will also have the opportunity to sample Greek wines with the cooperation of the specialized wine tourism consultant company Grapefool and the support of Wines of Greece.

At the same time, they will have the opportunity to discover Greek destinations, the beauties of Greece and their distinct character at the kiosks of Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT), South Aegean Region, Crete, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts, AMKE Branding Heritage, Tripping View, The Glam in the City, Moptil (Mobile Optilcal Illusions), Fortissimo, Celestyal Cruises, Grapefool, Skinos Mastiha Spirit as well as the work of artist Thanassis Lalas in a dedicated exhibition space.

Finally, on Monday, April 16, American travel agents will be invited by Greek Professional Yacht Owners Bareboat Association (SITESAP) and Mact Media Group to visit the 1st Yachting Festival of Maritime Tourism in Greece at the Alimos marina, where they will have the chance to experience Greek yachting firsthand as well as explore opportunities for cooperation with professionals of marine tourism.

FedHATTA President Lysandros Tsilidis noted: "We are aiming for a double-digit increase in incoming tourism from the USA in the coming years, on condition of continuing coordinated top-level undertakings such as the ASTA Destination EXPO 2018."

The conference is under the auspices of the Greece's Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and is held with the support of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Tornos News published exclusive interviews by both the President of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Zane Kerby here and the Vice President and Business Development Manager, Robert Duglin here during the visits that they recently paid to Athens in order to organize the conference.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report