A “lightning trip” to Paris was made by the Regional Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalias in order to inaugurate the pavilion of the Region of Attica at the International Tourism Exhibition “IFTM Top Resa 2026” being hosted these days at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center.
Metropolitan Attica is once again making a strong “presence” at the most important professional meeting of the tourism sector in France, as a co-exhibitor at the national pavilion of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). The aim of the participation is the further penetration into major international markets, the attraction of new tourist flows, and the strengthening of the basin’s recognition as a modern, competitive, and sustainable destination 365 days a year.
During his brief stay in the French capital, Mr. Hardalias toured the event premises and held a series of contacts with representatives of the international tourism market, tour operators, and professionals in the sector.
At the center of the discussions were the new trends in global tourism, the possibilities for further strengthening arrivals, and the expansion of Attica’s presence in new markets. Particular emphasis was placed on the French market as well as on promoting the multidimensional tourism character of Attica and the different experiences it offers throughout the year: from Athens and the Athenian Riviera to Piraeus and the islands of the Argosaronic Gulf, but also from culture and gastronomy to maritime and conference tourism.
N. Hardalias: “We are strengthening tourist flows and creating greater added value for local communities”
Immediately after the end of the inauguration ceremony, the Regional Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalias stated the following:
“We are in Paris, at IFTM Top Resa, at one of the most important international meetings of the global tourism market, with more than 32,000 professionals and 1,650 exhibitors from all over the world.
Metropolitan Attica is steadily strengthening its position internationally, building new partnerships and promoting a modern, competitive, and sustainable tourism product. We are highlighting a destination that is not limited to the historical and cultural reserve of Athens, but includes the Athenian Riviera, Piraeus, our islands, the coastal front, gastronomy, culture, and a series of authentic experiences that the visitor can live all twelve months of the year.
Our goal is to further strengthen tourist flows, extend the duration of the tourist season, and create greater added value for local communities and our economy. We want more visitors, while at the same time investing in quality, balanced, and sustainable tourism that will create new jobs and a real development footprint.
However, extroversion for us does not stop at tourism. It concerns overall the position we want Attica to have on the European and international map. That is why we are deepening our strategic relations with the Metropolitan Region of Paris, Île-de-France, and seeking fields of substantial cooperation in innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and the transfer of know-how.
Attica does not wait for opportunities. It seeks them out, claims them, creates strong international alliances, and turns them into tangible results for our land and our fellow citizens. With a specific plan and consistency, we want the country’s capital Region to be where developments are shaped, to engage with the largest metropolitan centers of Europe, and to make use of every partnership that can create new development prospects”.
A few words about “IFTM Top Resa 2026”
IFTM Top Resa is France’s most important international tourism exhibition and one of the main meeting points of the European and global tourism industry. It covers the entire spectrum of the travel market, from inbound and outbound tourism to leisure travel, business travel, and the MICE sector (meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions).
The theme of this year’s event is “The value of travel – Let us discover together what creates impact”, with the discussion developing around three main pillars: economic and territorial value, human, social, and emotional value, and the sustainable and collective value of travel.
The philosophy of “IFTM Top Resa 2026” focuses on the way tourism creates substantial value for destinations, local communities, businesses, and travelers, as well as on how this can be incorporated into the strategic decisions that will shape the future of the sector.
Working visit to Paris-Saclay
On the sidelines of his brief stay in Paris, Mr. Nikos Hardalias also made a working visit to Paris-Saclay, one of Europe’s most important ecosystems of research, technology, and innovation, where universities, research centers, businesses, and startups coexist.
This specific action falls within the framework of the cooperation that has developed between the Region of Attica and the Île-de-France Region, with the aim of exchanging experience and know-how on issues of research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of modern ecosystems.
The Greek delegation was welcomed by the Mayor of Bures-sur-Yvette and Regional Councillor of Île-de-France, François Vigier, as well as the Director of Innovation and Economic Development of the Établissement Public d’Aménagement Paris-Saclay, Jérémy Hervé.
The Regional Governor visited the Playground Paris-Saclay building, where he was informed about the ecosystem’s development and operating model, the cooperation between universities, research bodies, businesses, and startups, as well as the mechanisms through which research and scientific knowledge are interconnected with innovative entrepreneurship. This was followed by a tour of the facilities and an exchange of views on the next phases of Paris-Saclay’s development.
The visit is of particular importance for the Region of Attica in view of the planning for the development of an Innovation Center – Park at the site of the Athens Lyssiatreio. In this context, best practices were examined concerning the design and operation of large innovation infrastructures, public-private sector cooperation, the connection of research and university institutions with businesses and startups, and the creation of sustainable ecosystems of research and entrepreneurship.
The two sides agreed to continue the exchange of know-how and contacts between the respective bodies, in order to explore specific fields of cooperation and joint actions in the coming period.
Mr. Nikos Hardalias at the international tourism exhibition “IFTM Top Resa 2026” was accompanied by the Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship and European Programming Alexandra Palli, the Special Secretary of the Region of Attica Elena Rapti, the General Director of the Regional Development Fund of Attica Sotiris Nikolaropoulos, the Head of the Special Management Service of the Regional Programme (SMSRP) “Attica” 2021 – 2027 Dimitris Drosis, the Coordinator of the Innovation Center Petros Podaras and the Deputy Director of the Office of the Regional Governor of Attica. Dimitris Tarazonas.
Also present were the regional councillors Georgios Tsoukalas and Nikolaos Magkanaris.
On behalf of the Tourism Directorate of the Region of Attica, the exhibition was attended by the Head of the Directorate Athina Kolyva and the Head of the Tourism Promotion Department Maria Pantelous.