INDIA SIGNS TOURISM COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH GREECE

January 13,1998

India and Greece have agreed to consider simplification of tourism visa formalities and to explore the possibilities of setting up of joint ventures in the tourism sector. An agreement to this affect was signed here today. Minister for Tourism Shri Srikanta Kumar Jena and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Shri

Theodoros Pangalos signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister, Shri Inder Kumar Gujral and visiting Greece President Shri Constantinos Stephanopoulos.

Some of the other features of the agreement are; promotion and increasing tourism exchanges between the countires; exchange of information and know-how, cooperation for the development of tourist relations, facilitation of exchanges of tour operators, travel agents and other organisation involved in tourism promotion, and to explore the possibilities of human resource development in tourism.

The Tourism Cooperation Agreement between India and Greece has its own significance. Greece is an important emerging tourist market for India. Greek tourists have a good awareness about Indian Tourism product, its history, culture and beauty. Presently, the annual arrivals from Greece to India is 5567 (1996) and there has been a steady growth in the arrival figures. Greece is also a growing economy and the disposable income of the Greek tourists is on the increase.

Greece & India can share the experience and knowledge of preservation of their tourist resources and development of tourism in their respective counties. Both the countries are predominently tourist destination offering products like history, culture, beaches, monuments adventure and various other kinds of tourist pttractions.