The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) welcomed the Ministry of Tourism’s announcement regarding the immediate operation of a Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office at the Greek Centre in Melbourne. On May 21, the GNTO announced the immediate hiring for the position of Head of the office, based at the Greek Centre in Melbourne, with a local jurisdiction covering Australia, New Zealand, and other island nations of Oceania.

For the past nine years, the GCM has engaged in numerous efforts and appeals to the Greek Government, relevant ministries, and related entities, advocating for the establishment of a GNTO office in Melbourne.

GCM President, Mr. Vasilis Papastergiadis, expressed his delight at this significant initiative, emphasizing its importance in strengthening ties not only between Greece and Australia but also between Greece and the Greek diaspora. “We welcome this move with great joy, which will not only strengthen Greek-Australian relations but also promote the cultural and tourism appeal of our homeland.”

Mr. Papastergiadis continued, stating, “The Ministry of Tourism is becoming another bridge connecting the Greek diaspora in Australia with the motherland. The GNTO office in Melbourne will be a reference point for promoting Greek tourism and history, as well as preserving Greek cultural heritage through conferences, lectures, and exhibitions, enhancing communication and collaboration with the Greek diaspora.”

See Also 

Blue Flags 2024: The list of the 625 cleanest beaches – Greece ranks 2nd worldwide (video)

He concluded, “We are committed to providing the necessary space at the Greek Centre for the GNTO offices, offering two years of free use of the facilities, without financial burden, as a return for the government’s support to our community during economic crises. Additionally, we maintain open communication channels with Greek entities and actively collaborate to facilitate related actions.”

Following Mr. Papastergiadis’ statement, enjonews.gr contacted the Ministry of Tourism and was informed that the process is advancing urgently, bypassing any time-consuming procedures. The Ministry of Tourism told journalist Mr. Manos Stavrianos, “The aim is to staff the GNTO office in Melbourne immediately, as requested by the GCM, so that it can start operating as soon as possible, which is very important ahead of the tourist season.”

On behalf of the GCM and the community, Mr. Papastergiadis thanked Mr. Manos Stavrianos and his colleagues at enjonews.gr for their interest and initiative in investigating and contacting the Ministry of Tourism regarding this issue.

Below is the call for expressions of interest for the position of Head of the GNTO Service Abroad in Australia, as published on the official website of the Greek National Tourism Organization.