(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 7 - Greece's Deputy Minister
for Culture and Tourism, George Nikitiades, and the EU
Commissioner for Industry, Antonio Tajani, have signed an
agreement that will see Greece participate in the European
project for tourism development in the off-season between South
America and Europe. The project, which was launched in June
2011, aims to bring 50,000 tourists to both sides of the
Atlantic. Alongside Greece, other countries taking part in the
scheme include Brazil, Argentina and Chile in South America, and
five other European countries (Italy, Spain, France, Poland and
Lithuania), as well as a series of airlines and tour operators.
"It is crucial to work with Greece not only in terms of debt but
also to develop growth and employment," Tajani said. "Tourism,
as well as export, is one of the few growing sectors in the
country". Nikitiades, meanwhile, said that the agreement
represented "an opportunity to help the country in concrete
terms" and mooted joint ventures "between two or three
countries" to create tourism packages "with Rome, Athens and
maybe Paris". "Europe is the world's number one tourist
destination," the Greek Minister added. "The target of 50,000
tourists is low, we will do a lot better".(ANSAmed).
