Nothing says “travel alert” like a roomful of British tour operators pondering Greek landscapes, cocktails in one hand and smartphones in the other, while murmuring something about “authentic experiences”. London recently hosted the AITO Summer Press Soirée, a yearly gathering where independent UK tour operators mingle with media legends from The Times, The Observer and, for anyone feeling extra continental, National Geographic Traveller. This year’s event lured about 90 travel journalists and editors who probably only left their keyboards for free snacks.
AITO, which styles itself as the bastion of specialised travel planning (or just people allergic to boring vacations), brought together countless professionals to discuss their work and exchange ideas. The goal? To connect travel sellers, tourism agencies and the British press so they might concoct new ways for Britons to go somewhere, anywhere, that isn’t their backyard.
Greece Unveils Nature’s Greatest Hits
Somewhere between polite nodding and actual interest, Eleni Skarveli, head of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK and Ireland, took the stage. The British seem endlessly fascinated with Greece, as long as there’s potential for a tan and a bit of Instagram clout. Skarveli dropped the usual “climate change” bomb, reminding folks that even Greek heat comes with side effects. However, the real focus was on Greece’s alternative tourism picks—places that people haven’t yet destroyed with identical selfies.
She showcased nature-soaked escapes: think diving off Alonissos (because breathing underwater is a thing now), scaling Kalymnos’ cliffs (good luck), birdwatching at the Evros Delta (for those who like their hobbies flappy), biking across Naxos, and walking every sustainable inch of Halki. Who knew that alternative tourism in Greece could be so… sporty?
The buzz wasn’t just small talk—plans were hatched for press trips to Kea, spontaneous brainstorms for new travel packages in Northern Greece, and some mutual back-patting over Thessaloniki as the starting gate for all these “fresh” adventures.
- The AITO event in London spotlighted alternative tourism in Greece, targeting new British travellers
- Greece’s natural beauty and potential for sustainable activities were highlighted by tourism officials
- Leading travel journalists from major British outlets attended, igniting media curiosity
- Greek tourism reps addressed the influence of climate change on travel habits
- Journalists and travel agents discussed upcoming press trips and collaboration with tour operators
- Regions like Kea and Thessaloniki emerged as the darlings of this new travel push
Greek alternative tourism, it seems, is not just alive—it’s pitching itself to British vacationers and stubbornly refusing to be background noise at this year’s travel industry mixer. Whether this means more travellers will swap fish ‘n’ chips for feta remains to be seen.