With the participation of leading travel agents and tour operators from Germany, Austria, Poland, Moldova and the Czech Republic, the Exclusive Greek Tourism Workshop (B2B) took place on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Alexandroupolis, at the Prefecture, an important initiative of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace that aims to strengthen the extroversion of the region's tourism product and to create new international partnerships.
The organization includes meetings between representatives of the tourism market and businesses in the Region, as well as a comprehensive program to familiarize yourself with the destination, giving foreign professionals the opportunity to gain direct and experiential experience of the comparative advantages of the region.
In his welcome, the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Christodoulos Topsides, emphasized that the Region is implementing a coherent strategy of tourism development and international promotion, with the central message of promoting Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as "Authentic Greece".
As he emphasized, the Region systematically invests in extroversion, in approaching new markets and in creating strong partnerships with the most important players in the international tourism industry, while highlighting the authenticity, culture, nature and unique identity of the place.
He made particular reference to the importance of the experiential approach followed by this specific action, noting that modern travelers are looking for authentic experiences, contact with culture, nature and local communities. For this reason, the workshop program transfers the focus of tourism networking to the destination itself, allowing the guest professionals to see, feel and experience what makes Eastern Macedonia and Thrace a unique four-season destination.
The Regional Governor, finally, invited the participants to get to know the region, pointing out that the true value of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace lies in the experiences it offers, the people, the traditions, the authentic flavors, the unique landscapes and the warm hospitality of the local communities.
The Deputy Regional Governor of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic of Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Panagiotis Archontis, welcomed the guests, noting that the Exclusive Greek Tourism Workshop is a targeted extroversion initiative that brings the region's businesses into direct contact with important tourism professionals from European markets. "Our goal is to create stable partnerships, strengthen the presence of our Region in international distribution networks and transform market interest into substantial development opportunities for local businesses and local communities," emphasized Mr. Archontis and added, "the introduction of the visiting professionals to the destination is the most powerful promotional tool, as it allows them to gain personal experience of the elements that make up the identity of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as a four-season destination."
As part of their hospitality, they have the opportunity to get to know the Evros Delta, one of the most important wetlands in Europe, the cross-border region of Evros, as well as cities with a special historical and cultural imprint, such as Orestiada, Didymoteicho and Soufli. At the same time, they will come into contact with producers, entrepreneurs and representatives of local gastronomy, gaining a comprehensive picture of the multidisciplinary tourist product of the Region.
This year's event is taking place in Alexandroupoli and Evros, highlighting the special characteristics of the region and its potential as a modern and multidisciplinary destination. At the same time, it is part of a broader plan of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, according to which the event will be hosted successively in the Regional Units of the Region, giving each year the opportunity to different regions to present their tourism product, experiences and business opportunities directly to the international tourism market.