Greece and Lebanon Deepen Bilateral Tourism Cooperation
[1m 22s read]
A working meeting between Greece’s Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni and Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism Laura El‑Khazen Lahoud took place in Athens, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties and shared Mediterranean identity that underpin the two countries’ long‑standing cooperation in tourism.
Held in a warm and constructive atmosphere, the meeting highlighted the historical and cultural bonds connecting Greece and Lebanon, as well as their strategic role as gateways between Europe and the Middle East. Both Ministers emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration to promote sustainable growth, enhance people‑to‑people connections and create new opportunities for businesses and local communities.
The discussion focused on expanding cooperation across a broad spectrum of thematic tourism segments, with particular emphasis on cultural, religious and pilgrimage tourism. Greece and Lebanon both possess internationally significant historical, archaeological and religious destinations, offering strong potential for joint initiatives and knowledge exchange.
Further areas of cooperation included wine tourism, gastronomy, and mountain and coastal tourism, leveraging the complementary characteristics and diverse landscapes of the two countries. Minister Kefalogianni presented the priorities of Greece’s national tourism strategy, which aims to extend the tourism season and promote lesser‑known destinations to ensure a more balanced distribution of visitor flows and support sustainable development nationwide.
Both sides agreed to enhance the exchange of expertise and best practices, particularly in product development, tourism data utilization, education and skills development. To ensure effective implementation, the two Ministers committed to advancing the signing of a Joint Action Programme 2027–2029, which will define specific areas and actions for bilateral cooperation.
Minister El‑Khazen Lahoud praised Greece’s efforts to shape a modern, sustainable and resilient tourism model, noting that Greek experience and know‑how can significantly support Lebanon’s efforts to recover and further develop its tourism sector.
The two Ministers concluded that the shared Mediterranean heritage, strong cultural ties and rich tourism assets of both countries create substantial prospects for developing new, high‑quality and sustainable tourism products that will benefit both societies.
The meeting was also attended by Lebanon’s Ambassador to Greece Kenj El Hajal, and Greece’s Acting Head of Strategic Planning and Head of International Relations & EU Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism Katerina Kontoudaki, underscoring the institutional depth and strategic importance of the bilateral dialogue.
