It was the second time Greece`s Balkan neighbour has taken part in the fair, where Bulgarian travel agencies and hoteliers unions were represented.
Bulgaria`s minister for tourism, Mariana Assenova, attended the event and said she was impressed by its Balkan focus and the presentation of alternative forms of tourism. She noted that Greek regional authorities had set up attractive stands at Philoxenia, held in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, and that Greek travel agents had indicated interest in cooperating with Bulgaria in the tourism sector.
In a meeting with Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT) officials, Assenova said it was agreed that a Greek-Bulgarian tourism council be formed with the aim of solving problems which hinder cooperation between the two countries.
She noted that the biggest problem facing Bulgarian visitors to Greece is the visa requirement, which is proving an obstacle. Assenova said Bulgarians were very interested in visiting Greece.
In a significant development, Greek, Romanian and Bulgarian travel agents met during Philoxenia and discussed the creation of a monastery tour covering all three countries.
Assenova visited all the Greek regional authority stands and spoke with members of local tourism development authorities.
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