The Ionian Islands Regional 2024 tourism promotion programme is significantly different following the change in leadership.
The changes involve both the number of tourism exhibitions within the scope of interest of the current leadership and the budget. The cost, at least for now, is limited to 300,000 Euros (unless the budget is revised) for the tourism promotion activities of the Ionian Islands, which will be covered by funds from the Regional Development Plan. The budget for the corresponding programme in 2023 was significantly boosted, partly due to transferred credits from the previous Regional Development Plan to the next one and funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) 2014 – 2020, reaching 1,348,000 Euros for participation in 23 international tourism exhibitions.
Regional Council meeting
Today, the Ionian Islands Regional Council has been called to an extraordinary monothematic session (3 p.m.), via teleconference, to approve the programme for the tourism promotion of the region for 2024. The issue is considered urgent "due to the delay of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) in announcing its annual programme for participation in international Tourism Exhibitions, resulting in the delay of the procedures required for our participation in these, which are time-consuming," states Regional Governor, Yiannis Trepeklis, who holds the Tourism portfolio. "In order for the Region to execute its programme, it is required to apply to GNTO for approval from its board and subsequent issuance of invitations, decisions, assignments, contract signatures, postings, material transfers, booth preparations, and travels."
Targeting
Based on the current leadership's plan, the Region will participate in 12 international tourism exhibitions in 2024. The tourism promotion will mainly focus on the markets of the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Austria through exhibitions, events, and road shows in selected foreign markets (Italy, France, Spain).
Expansion into emerging markets based on new trends in flows is also a target, as well as the qualitative improvement of tourism by enhancing alternative forms such as cultural, religious, conference, and city breaks tourism. Additionally, participation in thematic exhibitions (e.g., gastronomy, ecotourism, diving tourism) is being targeted. The plan also includes extending the tourist season through co-advertising with airlines to target key markets, such as the United Kingdom and Germany.
12 tourist exhibitions
Participation pertains indicatively and not restrictively to the following tourism exhibitions, which include minor expenses for meals and drinks, traditional and souvenir items, as well as interpretation or translation costs.
Specifically, for the first half of 2024, participation is proposed in seven tourism exhibitions:
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Hungary, TRAVEL, UTAZAS, Budapest, February 22-25 (excluding GNTO)
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Serbia, INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TOURISM (IFT), Belgrade, February 22-25
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Denmark, FERRIE FOR ALLE, Herning, February 23-25
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Germany, ITB, Berlin, March 5-7 (excluding GNTO)
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Italy, BMT, Naples, March 14-16
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Austria, FERIENMESSE, Vienna, March 14-17
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Cyprus, TRAVEL EXPO CYPRUS, Nicosia, April 19-21
Second half:
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France, IFTM-TOP RESA, Paris, September 17-19
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United Kingdom, WORLD TRAVEL MARKET, London, November 5-7
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PHILOXENIA, Thessaloniki, November 14-16
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Poland, ITTF WARSAW, Warsaw, November 21-23
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Spain, IBTM, Barcelona, November 19-21
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
Photo: ITB Berlin/Enimerosi archive
