The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Aegean Region to strengthen tourism cooperation and promote the region’s islands in the high-potential Indian market.
The MoU was signed in Rhodes by Abbas Moiz, President, TAFI, and Giorgos Hatzimarkos, Governor of the South Aegean Region and President of the Association of Greek Regions, during TAFI’s 40th Anniversary Convention being held in Rhodes from October 4–7.
The agreement assumes significance as Greece, and the South Aegean in particular, looks to deepen its engagement with India’s rapidly expanding outbound travel market. The partnership seeks to establish a structured framework for promoting the South Aegean islands among Indian travellers, developing thematic tourism offerings, increasing tourist flows and strengthening business relationships between the two markets.
For TAFI, the partnership provides its members with a stronger platform to engage with one of Greece’s key tourism regions and gain greater exposure to its diverse destination offerings. For the South Aegean, the collaboration offers direct access to one of India’s most influential travel trade networks at a time when Indian travellers are increasingly exploring experiential, cultural, luxury and leisure destinations in Europe.
The signing also builds on the significance of Rhodes hosting TAFI’s 40th Anniversary Convention, which has brought more than 400 Indian travel professionals to the destination. The convention is providing the South Aegean with an opportunity to showcase its tourism proposition directly to Indian travel advisors and strengthen trade relationships.
Hatzimarkos has described the convention and the MoU as an opportunity to build stronger and more sustained links with India, with tourism serving as a bridge between the two markets.
The agreement marks a significant step towards creating greater destination awareness in India and could pave the way for increased trade engagement, product development and tourist movement between India and the South Aegean region.