Greece Promotes Santorini and Mykonos to Global Travel Markets

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is bringing together tourism officials, local authorities and international travel media in Santorini and Mykonos from October 5 to 11, 2026, as part of an initiative to strengthen the international profile of two of Greece’s best-known destinations.

The Santorini-Mykonos GNTO Tourism Forum 2026, organised in cooperation with the Municipalities of Thira and Mykonos, brings together heads of GNTO offices abroad, local government representatives, tourism professionals, journalists and editors from major international travel publications.

The forum aims to exchange knowledge about international markets and emerging travel trends while exploring ways to strengthen the presence of Santorini and Mykonos in overseas markets.

Santorini hosts first stage of tourism forum

The event begins in Santorini from October 5 to 8, in cooperation with the Municipality of Thira.

The main event, the GNTO-Santorini Tourism Forum 2026, takes place on October 6 at the Petros M. Nomikos Conference Centre in Fira.

The programme includes addresses by GNTO Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos and Thira Mayor Nikos Zorzos, presentations from directors of GNTO offices abroad and an open discussion.

The programme also gives participants, particularly international travel media representatives, the opportunity to experience different aspects of Santorini through its culture, history, gastronomy and wine.

Visits include the archaeological site of Akrotiri, Megalochori and the Santorini Arts Factory.

Forum moves to Mykonos

The delegation travels to Mykonos on October 8, where the forum continues until October 11 in cooperation with the Municipality of Mykonos.

The GNTO-Mykonos Tourism Forum takes place on October 9 and includes addresses by Fiorentinos and Mykonos Mayor Christos Veronis, a destination presentation, an open discussion and presentations by directors of GNTO offices abroad.

The Mykonos programme also highlights the island’s cultural and authentic character through visits to Delos, Ano Mera and the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani.

Participants will also experience local gastronomy and aspects of Mykonos’ traditional character.

GNTO seeks to broaden Greece’s tourism image

GNTO Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos said Santorini and Mykonos remain two of the strongest international brands in Greek tourism, but their global recognition also creates a challenge to broaden the way international visitors perceive them.

“Worldwide recognition is a very important advantage, but at the same time a challenge: to continue enriching their image by highlighting all those elements that make them unique beyond the iconic image with which they are already associated in the international travel consciousness,” Fiorentinos said.

He said the forum creates a direct channel between GNTO officials working daily in major overseas markets and the destinations themselves.

“With the Santorini-Mykonos GNTO Tourism Forum 2026, we create a meaningful channel between the people of the GNTO who work every day in the most important international markets and the destinations themselves,” he said.

“We listen to the markets, exchange knowledge and experience and, at the same time, highlight the culture, gastronomy, history, hinterland and authenticity of the two islands.”

Fiorentinos added that the GNTO’s strategy focuses on giving travellers more reasons to visit Greece, encouraging visits at more times of the year and helping visitors discover more experiences in each destination.

“Santorini and Mykonos are two global brands that still have many stories to tell,” he said. “And these are the stories we want to bring to international markets in a modern and targeted way.”

The forum concludes in Mykonos on October 11, completing a joint initiative between the GNTO and local government that connects knowledge of international markets with first-hand experiences of the destinations.

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.