New Delhi: Greece tourism in India entered a new phase as Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni visited New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday to coincide with the launch of IndiGo Airlines’ first direct flight connecting Athens with the Indian capital.
During the visit, Kefalogianni held discussions with Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on a cooperation framework aimed at promoting Greece as a destination for Indian travellers. The talks also addressed practical travel-related matters, including visa facilitation and easing procedural hurdles, according to a post on X by Shekhawat.
Her schedule included meetings with Indian travel agents arranged by the Greek Embassy in New Delhi, interactions with IndiGo’s senior management, according to reports.
Greek tourism officials underlined their commitment to improving visa access for Indian travellers. The focus, they said, is on reducing what they described as “administrative friction” that has, in some cases, discouraged Indian tourists from choosing Schengen destinations, including Greece.
Among the initiatives discussed were targeted measures to shorten Schengen visa processing times for travellers applying through Greece. In addition, Greece is preparing to expand its consular presence in India with plans to open new consulates in Mumbai and Bengaluru later this year.
These offices are expected to function as regional hubs for visa processing as well as tourism promotion, providing improved access for India’s high-income travellers and technology professionals.
Beyond established attractions such as Santorini and the Acropolis, Greece is seeking to diversify its appeal within the Indian market. Areas being promoted include wedding and film tourism, leveraging India’s large destination wedding industry and the growing use of international locations in Indian cinema.
Greece is also positioning Athens as a destination for MICE tourism, highlighting its infrastructure for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
Cultural and culinary exchange is another pillar of the Greece tourism India strategy, with officials highlighting shared traditions of hospitality in both countries, where guests are treated with the highest respect.
