Interest from Turkish tourists in Greece is growing

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce President Şekib Avdagiç stated in his speech at the Turkish-Greek Business Forum that Turkey and Greece are countries that complement each other economically and commercially. Emphasizing that cooperation between the two countries should be increased, Avdagiç said, 'While Turkey is in a bridge position between Asia and Europe, Greece holds importance as a strategic gateway opening to Europe via this bridge. There are significant opportunities to strengthen our economic ties.'

NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING GREECE REACHES 1.5 MILLION

Avdagiç stated that the trade volume between Turkey and Greece is around 6 billion dollars and that there is great potential in this area. He noted that in 2024, the number of tourists coming from Greece to Turkey was 710 thousand, while the number of tourists going from Turkey to Greece was 1.5 million. Saying 'This increase in the number of Turkish tourists was made possible thanks to the facilitation of visa procedures,' Avdagiç added that these figures could be increased even further through joint tourism initiatives.

Avdagiç stated that after the Ukraine crisis, Europe's trade and logistics dynamics changed, and that Turkey has emerged as a key transit route between the European Union and the wider Eurasia region. However, he also added that various difficulties are being encountered due to restrictions imposed by European Union countries on transportation.

Sophia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, First Vice President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that trade between Turkey and Greece has great potential and that commercial relations should be deepened. Efraimoglou stated that Turkey is one of the most important powers in the region and has become a significant hub for digital transformation and green investment. She said, 'We believe that our economies can develop by supporting each other.'