With the Indian tourist market undergoing rapid development, Chania is one of the destinations which are attracting Indian visitors. Direct flights to Crete from India are expected with the completion of the new Heraklion International Airport, which is partly funded by the Indian-controlled GMR Airports Greece SMSA.
In Chania, following a memorandum of understanding signed with the Hellenic-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Economy, the Hoteliers’ Union of the Nomos hosted Indian tour operators for two-days on 19th and 20th June. According to an announcement by the Union, “this visit was organised within the framework of cooperation between the Cretan Hospitality Association, the Region of Crete, the Cretan Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies and the Hellenic-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Economy.
“The group of Indian tour operators was accompanied by Mr Angelos Tsavdaris, President of the Hellenic-Indian Chamber of Commerce, and Ms Georgia Korakaki, Senior Adviser for Modernization & Development – Head of Greece-India Relations.
“This familiarisation trip was an excellent opportunity to promote Chania and Crete more generally in the fast-developing Indian tourist market while at the same time creating the conditions for future cooperation, especially in anticipation of the operation of the new Heraklion International Airport, in which the Indian-controlled company GMR Airports Greece SMSA has a 21.6% interest. As a result of this investment, we expect in the future to have direct flights from India, with the result that we will have a greater spread of risk on Cretan arrivals.
“The guests were able to get close-up experience of the touristic product of Crete, with separate guided tours in each Nomos, with the participation of local Hoteliers’ Unions as well as the contribution of local businesses.
“Through B2B meetings with hotel owners and tourist businesses, the Indian tour operators were able to familiarise themselves with the hotel infrastructure, as well as the possibilities which Crete can offer as a high-quality destination.
“At an official dinner hosted by the Hoteliers’ Union of the Nomos of Chania, we were honoured by the presence of ex-minister Mrs Dora Bakogianni and the Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Mrs Sevi Voloudaki.
“We thank them for their help in the continual improvement of our infrastructure and for the promotion of our destination,” the announcement concludes.
(Haniotika Nea, 24/06/26)
A familiarisation trip covering the whole of Crete
The visit to Chania was part of a major familiarisation trip (“Fam trip” in tour operators’ jargon) which under the title “India looks to Crete” covered all four Regional Units of the island, from 15th to 20th June, with the participation of the Hoteliers’ Union of each Nomos. In a post on LinkedIn announcing the forthcoming tour, the President of the Hellenic-Indian Chamber of Commerce Angelos Tsavdaris said:
“The ‘India Looks to Crete’ initiative is not just a journey of hospitality. It is a concerted effort to create a permanent bridge of cooperation between Crete and India. It is the first time that all the prefectures of Crete are participating in an organised joint extrovert action aimed at attracting tourism from India.
“Heraklion, Lasithi, Rethymnon and Chania are joining forces to present a complete tourism product that combines:
— culture and history
— authentic hospitality
— world-class gastronomy
— luxury tourism and yachting
— destination weddings and honeymoon travel
— natural beauty and experiential experiences
— modern tourist infrastructure.
Of particular importance are the B2B meetings that will take place throughout the programme, as they create the foundations for new collaborations between Crete’s businesses and the Indian tourism market ….
“India is a country of 1.4 billion people, with an ever-growing middle and upper class looking for new destinations, new experiences and new partnerships. Crete has all the resources to be one of these destinations.”
(www.linkedin.com)