The new VisitGreece.gr, the renewed official online portal for promoting Greek tourism, was presented today by the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, at an event held at the “Onassis Foundation” amphitheater of the National Gallery in Athens.
“Today we present a project that opens a new chapter in the communication and digital promotion of our country. A new approach to the way Greece promotes its tourism identity internationally and communicates with its visitors through the capabilities of modern technology,” stressed Ms. Kefalogianni and added: “Greece’s unique natural and cultural environment now acquires a new digital dimension, highlighting even more the authenticity, quality, and richness of the experiences our country offers.”
According to what the Minister of Tourism stated, the digital transformation of the Greek National Tourism Organization does not simply concern the creation of a new website. It constitutes a comprehensive digital ecosystem that connects information, culture, technology, and the visitor experience. The project, which is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund, is being developed through three main pillars.
The first is the Digital Tourism Map. Specifically, through extensive recording, organization, and documentation of the country’s tourism assets, a modern tool was created that brings together natural, cultural, and tourism resources from every corner of Greece. This is a tool that will be utilized by the Ministry of Tourism, the GNTO, the Regions, and the Municipalities, supporting better planning, promotion, and the sustainable development of each destination.
The second pillar is the Digital Repository and the Digital Interactive Museum of Tourism. For the first time, a particularly large volume of historical and audiovisual material from the Greek National Tourism Organization was organized, digitized, and documented. In this way, a valuable part of the history of Greek tourism is preserved and is now accessible to citizens, researchers, and future generations.
The third and most important pillar is the complete redesign of VisitGreece and the creation of a unified digital experience through the new website and the VisitGreece app.
It is noted that from July 1, Greece’s official tourism portal and the new application will accompany the traveler at every stage of their journey. From the very first moment they seek inspiration for their next destination, to planning their route, discovering experiences, traveling around Greece, and maintaining their relationship with Greece even after their return. For this purpose, entirely new digital content was created and organized, with extensive production and editing of texts, photographs, and high-quality audiovisual material.
At the same time, the new VisitGreece leverages the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence.
“Visitors will be able to interact with digital assistants, receive personalized suggestions, organize their trip, and be informed immediately through an experience of natural and human communication,” said Ms. Kefalogianni.
She also added that Artificial Intelligence is evolving into a catalyst for change for the entire travel industry. “It gives us the ability to better understand the visitor’s needs, so that we can design even more effective policies and promotional actions. In this context, the cooperation of the Greek government with ElevenLabs, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of voice Artificial Intelligence, is also included,” she underlined.
Through the new VisitGreece, this technology comes into direct contact with the general public, offering natural conversation, multilingual communication, and a new experience of information and service, more immediate, more human, and more personalized. At the same time, it constitutes a valuable tool for the entire ecosystem of Greek tourism: for the Regions, the Municipalities, local communities, businesses, and professionals in the sector.
“With the new VisitGreece, we present Greece’s new digital ambassador. A tool that inspires, informs, guides, and brings our country closer to every traveler, wherever they may be,” noted Ms. Kefalogianni.
The minister thanked the Directorate of Tourism Promotion of the GNTO, the Technical Chamber of Greece, all cooperating bodies, and every person who worked with dedication to make this project a reality.
SOURCE: ANA-MPA