Until 2004 Philoxenia’s Exhibition, which is held every November in Greece, had lost many of its standards and it didn’t give the necessary importance in order to create a strong international base here in Thessalonica according to Tunisian delegation.

“Philoxenia is more organized this year and welcomed also a Hosted Buyer Programme, which is something new in the framework of the Exhibition”, said Mr. Mohamed Bachar, Representative of Tunisian National Tourism Board.

Tunisia’s delegation has a constant presence in Philoxenia since 1996 and strongly supports it. Mr. Mohamed believes that things are better since last year, but he waits the following days when Philoxenia will be opened to the public. Tunisia expects to promote its tourist product through Philoxenia and bring more tourists to the country from other destinations and especially from Greece.

“The problem is that Greeks barely looked Tunisia as a tourism destination, because the previous years they preferred mainly Central and Western Europe”, said Mr. Mohamed Bachar. “But things changed, as in 2004 we had a 45% increase related to 2003 and we estimate that in 2005 Greek tourists in Tunisia will reach 15.000.”

On the other hand, Tunisians know Greece very well, its culture and history but they can’t come to Greece because there is a complete absence of a promoting package in Tunisia, claimed Mr. Mohamed Bachar. Only 800-1200 Tunisians come to Greece, while the same time 60.000 visit Turkey.