Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni meets East Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni held a meeting today (Tuesday, September 2) in Gümülcine with East Macedonia and Thrace (EMT) Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis.

The meeting, chaired by Governor Topsidis, was attended by a government delegation including Deputy Minister of Digital Governance Christos Dermenopoulos, Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development Vasiliki Koutsoukou, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs and Openness Dimitrios Skalkos, and Rodopi MP Evripidis Stylianidis.

Governor Topsidis thanked the minister and the delegation, presenting the region’s tourism strategy, planned projects, and ongoing initiatives. He emphasized that lifting the ban on bus crossings at the Nymfaia (Yanikköy) border checkpoint would bring added tourism value not only to Rodopi but to the entire East Macedonia and Thrace region. Discussion also focused on leveraging the E6 European Route for year-round tourism, as well as highlighting the region’s multicultural identity, local gastronomy, and alternative tourism opportunities.

Minister Kefalogianni underlined the government’s goal of adding value to Rodopi and the wider region through tourism: “Our aim is for the government’s development plan to benefit both the economy and society through tourism.” She stressed the importance of extending visitor flows throughout the year and noted that the private sector’s involvement will be crucial in this process.

Both sides agreed to reconvene in the coming months for a broader discussion on East Macedonia and Thrace’s overall tourism strategy. The Gümülcine meeting placed particular focus on Rodopi.

Separately, Deputy Minister Dermenopoulos and Governor Topsidis also held talks on land registry (Ktimatologio), digital services, and strengthening digital infrastructure.