The ASTA Destination Expo, which will be held in Athens in 2018 (14-17 April), is expected to provide a great boost to the tourist flows in our country from the US; with the prospect of doubling them over the next few years.

The conference will provide a unique opportunity for Greek tourism companies to showcase their services and destinations. Αnd substantially expand their benefits from the US tourism market. At the same time, it will make a decisive contribution to the promotion of Greece in the US tourism market. Thus, promotional activities for Greece will be in progress before and after the conference.

Both the Vice President of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Robert Duglin and the President of the Federation of Greek Liaison Offices for Travel & Tourism (FedHATTA), Mr. Lysandros Tsilidis spoke during the event.  Organized by the Federation on Friday 8 December in Athens , at the King George Hotel, with Mr Duglin as an official guest and representative of ASTA. He thoroughly underlined that the event will contribute to a dynamic restart of the US market for Greece.

…A bright future

Speaking to dozens of Greek tourist agencies and tour operators, he emphasized how the Greek side will succeed in collaborating with US professionals. Furthermore, he presented the profile of travel agencies from the US that are to attend the conference. Through the work of the Athens ASTA Destination Expo, tour operators and hoteliers will have a unique opportunity to get in touch with a market of hundreds of experienced travel agencies from the US within a three-day period.

Mr. Duglin gave useful advice to Greek travel agents as to how they should present their product to American buyers in order to maximize the benefits of business meetings. The event was attended by Mr. Konstantinos Tsegas, of the Greek National Tourism Organization. Mr. Tsegas assured that the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek Tourism Organization will support the event.

Greece.. a high seller!

Greece is quite high in the sales of independent tourist agencies in the USA (NACTA). With the Greek islands accumulating 8% and Athens being among the 16 most popular destinations (2015 figures). As for the profile of US tour operators, group travel accounts for 22% of their annual sales, and sales related to leisure travel have a 82% share of total annual sales. Organized holiday packages account for 21% of sales, cruise to 26%, aviation to 20% and hotels to 26%. In fact, 82% of US agents consider fam trip a very effective way to sell for a destination. The interest of US tourists is steadily rising, while the Greek tourist offices for b2b meetings are almost completed.

This is the 3rd ASTA conference in Athens. It was preceded by the 37th annual ASTA World Travel Congress in October 1967, as well as in 1987. AT the time the conference contributed to the lifting of the travel directive for Greece and doubled US tourists in the country one year later.

ASTA represents travel and travel agencies from the United States.  ASTA memberw account for 82% of all travel bookings through a travel agency. In addition, 1,800 members, independent travel agencies, travel consultants and US suppliers, will also be represented at the conference, which are part of the NACTA umbrella.