RIYADH: Greece is offering Saudi investors a five-year tourism visa if they buy a property worth 250,000 euro or more, according to a leading official from that country.
Dimitris Tryfonopoulos, general secretary of the Greek National Tourism Organization, told Arab News recently this was a stimulus measure to boost the country’s economy. The visa would allow Saudi investors to travel in and out of the country as they require over the five-year period of the visa’s validity.
Tryfonopoulos said that the Saudi market was very important to his country and that his organization was working with the Greek Ministry of Development, Economy and Tourism and Greek Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
In April, they held a second Greek Tourism Workshop in Riyadh, with 130 travel agents and tour operators participating. There were 12,000 establishments in Greece ready to host Saudis and other tourists this summer.
He said Greece has a wide range of attractions for all ages including places to stay along the coast, ancient ruins, museums, luxury hotels and resorts, fine restaurants, and “friendly” people, many able to speak English and Arabic.
He said it is hoped that tourism will boost the country’s ailing economy. “Although 2015 was a record-breaking year with Greece chosen by more than 25.5 million tourists worldwide, who spent more than 14.5 billion euro, we have set clear goals, through our new four-year strategy plan, to make our country one of the top five world destinations. We want about 30 million tourists, with a longer- term goal to reach 40 million,” he said.
Tryfonopoulos said that effective from May, all tourists receive shopping discount cards on arrival at the airports. “The card entitles holders to various discount rates at thousands of shops, stores, restaurants, hotels and recreational centers, in a bid to boost shopping,” he said.
Ambassador of Greece to Riyadh Chronis Polychroniou told Arab News that the country’s profile was highlighted when it was the guest of honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair. “The fair not only helped to introduce our country to visitors as a prominent center for global culture, but also as a unique tourist destination. My embassy is working hard to facilitate visas for Saudis, for tourism or business,” he said.
He said that Saudis have been traveling regularly to Greece for over 25 years. King Saud loved Greece, where he spent many of the last years of his life, and passed away in Athens. “We are expecting more Saudis in 2016. Last year we had around 10,000, a 30 percent increase from the previous year,” he said.
Dimitris Tryfonopoulos, general secretary of the Greek National Tourism Organization, told Arab News recently this was a stimulus measure to boost the country’s economy. The visa would allow Saudi investors to travel in and out of the country as they require over the five-year period of the visa’s validity.
Tryfonopoulos said that the Saudi market was very important to his country and that his organization was working with the Greek Ministry of Development, Economy and Tourism and Greek Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
In April, they held a second Greek Tourism Workshop in Riyadh, with 130 travel agents and tour operators participating. There were 12,000 establishments in Greece ready to host Saudis and other tourists this summer.
He said Greece has a wide range of attractions for all ages including places to stay along the coast, ancient ruins, museums, luxury hotels and resorts, fine restaurants, and “friendly” people, many able to speak English and Arabic.
He said it is hoped that tourism will boost the country’s ailing economy. “Although 2015 was a record-breaking year with Greece chosen by more than 25.5 million tourists worldwide, who spent more than 14.5 billion euro, we have set clear goals, through our new four-year strategy plan, to make our country one of the top five world destinations. We want about 30 million tourists, with a longer- term goal to reach 40 million,” he said.
Tryfonopoulos said that effective from May, all tourists receive shopping discount cards on arrival at the airports. “The card entitles holders to various discount rates at thousands of shops, stores, restaurants, hotels and recreational centers, in a bid to boost shopping,” he said.
Ambassador of Greece to Riyadh Chronis Polychroniou told Arab News that the country’s profile was highlighted when it was the guest of honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair. “The fair not only helped to introduce our country to visitors as a prominent center for global culture, but also as a unique tourist destination. My embassy is working hard to facilitate visas for Saudis, for tourism or business,” he said.
He said that Saudis have been traveling regularly to Greece for over 25 years. King Saud loved Greece, where he spent many of the last years of his life, and passed away in Athens. “We are expecting more Saudis in 2016. Last year we had around 10,000, a 30 percent increase from the previous year,” he said.
