EKOME and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) signed on January 12, a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose to design and implement joint actions that highlight their work, promote Greek tourism and the domestic audiovisual sector abroad through targeted actions in international exhibitions and markets, and develop a specific framework that will establish the country as an attractive destination for investment in the audiovisual production.
President and CEO of EKOME, Mr. Panagiotis Kouanis, welcomed the signing of the Memorandum, stressing that “by joining forces and with the exchange of know-how between two predominantly extrovert bodies, we further strengthen the brand name “Greece”, and promote the Greek tourism product in top positions internationally, especially through the audiovisual production process”.
President of GNTO, Mrs. Angela Gerekou, during the signing of the Memorandum, stated: “Today it is with great pleasure that GNTO and EKOME co-sign a Memorandum of Understanding aiming at an even more dynamic and qualitative promotion of our country. We join forces to promote tourism, culture, and the domestic audiovisual sector. It is a fact that cinema and especially international productions can be a modern, dynamic tool for the promotion of our country. The Government, the Ministry of Tourism, GNTO and EKOME prove in practice that we remain firm in our initial commitments.”
EKOME, a state company supervised by the Ministry of Digital Governance, works to attract international audiovisual productions in Greece, administers the 40% cash rebate, 30% tax-relief schemes and the National Network of Film Offices to enhance domestic audiovisual production and supports public and private initiatives and businesses in the fields of audiovisual media and digital technology. At the same time, it is responsible for the promotion of Greece abroad as a unique destination for the production of audiovisual works.
GNTO, as the main competent body for the promotion of Greek tourism domestically and internationally, implements the tourism policy of the Ministry of Tourism, developing actions and synergies with public and private bodies that contribute creatively to the strengthening of Greece’s image as a tourist destination, the promotion of the economic contribution of tourism and its interaction with the local economy.