The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is making a renewed push into the Australian market with the reopening of its Melbourne-based office. The New Greek Tourism Office to strengthen links with Australia signalling a strengthened focus on forging tourism and diaspora links between Greece and Australia.
According to statements from the GNTO and the Greek Community of Melbourne, the new “Australia Abroad” office will be located at Melbourne’s Greek Centre building and is intended to act as a strategic base for promoting Greece across Australia—and potentially parts of Oceania. The Greek Community of Melbourne had offered complimentary space for two years to support the launch of the GNTO’s presence.
Australia has been highlighted as a key long-haul market for Greek tourism, offering year-round potential and a strong Greek diaspora established in Melbourne and beyond. The GNTO’s Secretary General, Andreas Fiorentinos, specifically noted the importance of the Australian market to Greece’s tourism growth strategy.
However, the initiative has faced significant bureaucratic delays. While the original announcement dates back to at least January 2023, the actual opening has been repeatedly postponed amid calls from the Greek-Australian community for swifter implementation. According to a recent parliamentary reply from Greece’s Minister for Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, an appointed GNTO head arrived in Melbourne in November 2025, but the full staffing of the office remains underway.
For the Greek-Australian community, the office is seen not just as a tourism promotion tool but also as a bridge strengthening cultural, educational, and business ties between Australia and Greece. The president of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis OAM, emphasised that hosting the GNTO would help deepen bilateral connections and provide a focal point for the diaspora.
In summary, the reopening of the GNTO’s Melbourne office reflects Greece’s broader ambition to elevate its tourism outreach in Australia while leveraging its diaspora network. Despite delays, the initiative is now positioned to move from planning to operational phase—with implications for tourism flows, cultural engagement, and strategic partnerships in the region.
