Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, hopes to be promoted as an LGBT-friendly (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) tourist destination as part of the region’s aim to attract visitors from specialized market segments, according to Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA), the region’s hoteliers union.

The union hosted a specialized online travel platform with Destsetters. The goal of the one-day seminar was to inform its members about the characteristics of the city’s market and international travellers could be drawn.

“Thessaloniki is ready to respond to any challenge of the international travel market, and is open to partnerships with bodies and organizations that seek to contribute to the increase of the tourists in the region,” THA president Aristotelis Thomopoulos said in his address.

Hotel executives noted that the city’s tourism product is competitive as it has characteristics that come first in the preferences of the LGBT community, such as culture, art, gastronomy and entertainment.

Organizers also presented the steps that need to be taken to include Thessaloniki in the travel guides of the global LGBT travel community and the effective approach of tourists through specific communication channels.