FedHATTA-HATTA | World Tourism Day: Tourism as a lever for resilience, sustainability and progress for all

• FedHATTA and HATTA Announcement for World Tourism Day

This year's World Tourism Day finds organized Greek tourism and especially the travel agency sector on a path of adaptation, as a requirement of the nature of tourism activity which, as a living organism, has as its only constant constant the constant change. At the heart of the operation of travel agencies, as has always been the case, is the person, the quality of services, continuous training and the retention of competent executives, while in recent years efforts have been made to adapt their services to the requirements of sustainability and digital transition.

Therefore, the sector is already in sync with this year's World Tourism Day theme, "Tourism and Sustainable Transformation", which highlights the need for tourism to become a lever for positive change for people and the planet. This means investing in education and skills, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of organized tourism, promoting green practices and reducing environmental impacts, so that tourism contributes to social and environmental sustainability, without burdening local communities and ecosystems.

At the same time, extending the tourist season by upgrading infrastructure remains a key issue for any tourism activity, so that the benefits of tourism are spread to local communities, if possible, all year round.

FedHATTA and HATTA, as the two bodies representing the interests of the Greek tourism agency sector and the majority of travelers who travel through them, have consistently highlighted the economic and social benefits of the sector in Greece. Tourism agencies,
- create jobs,
- support local economies
- fuel the infrastructure of hospitality, air and coastal transport and catering, while promoting cultural, religious and conference tourism, cruising, yachting and outdoor tourism
- cultivate ties between places and people, preserving cultural heritage and tradition, as the messages received from relevant surveys indicate an increased tendency to become familiar with the natural and architectural rhythm, and the revival of tradition in both insular and mainland Greece.

This year’s World Tourism Day reminds us that organized tourism, and especially travel agencies, are the foundation of economic and social prosperity on a global scale. With professionalism, knowledge and creativity, people in the industry support destinations, local communities and infrastructure, while adapting to challenges such as the pandemic, the energy crisis and inflation.

HATTA and FEDHATTA are committed to continuing to contribute to shaping the course of organized tourism, on a path of quality services, executive training, green practices and digitalization, strengthening efforts to extend the tourist season and ensuring that the benefits reach everyone.

Our goal is a resilient, sustainable tourism with a people-centered approach, which positively transforms local communities and further strengthens Greece’s position on the global tourism map.