Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, our city ambassadors “PerhaΨ you’re an AΘenian too!” With this key message and supported by an inspired promotional campaign, Athens International Airport invites visitors from all over the world to feel like true citizens of Athens, through the airport’s “City Pair Initiative”, implemented under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation. The campaign aims to promote and strengthen the attractiveness of Athens as a destination at 18 international airports handling an annual traffic of 170,000,000 passengers. Last week, a joint Athens International Airport and Greek National Tourism Organisation delegation visited 3 prestigious German airports, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, all members of the family of fellow airports that spread internationally the message of AIA’s “City Pair” campaign. AIA’s CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, GNTO General Secretary, Panos Leivadas and the Greek Consul Generals at the respective German cities, were guided through the airport premises, where, throughout 2014, Athens has a strong promotional presence. Turning all “eyes” on Athens, the airport areas, web pages, corporate editions and social media of the 3 German airports (handling 72,900,000 passengers annually), became the best platforms for promoting the dynamics of Athens in the global map of top destinations – especially in a period of extremely adverse economic conditions. The German market, one of the strongest out of Athens (corresponding to 17% of Western Europe) and among the most resilient amid the economic adversity, posted an impressive 45% growth in the first four months of 2014. Besides the 3 German airports, the campaign “PerhaΨ you’re an AΘenian too” “plays” creatively with the letters of the Greek alphabet, as well as words and global concepts of Greek origin, such as “history”, “harmony”, “philoxenia” and promotes Athens at another 15 international airports, in the European Union and Russia, Canada, U.S.A and South America; the respective destinations are also promoted by the Athens airport on a reciprocal basis. “We are delighted with the results of our visits”, said AIA CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, “to 3 prestigious members of the family of 18 fellow airports committed to promote “destination Athens”. During the six months since the launch of our cooperation, our airport partners have become excellent ambassadors of the Athens airport campaign “PerhaΨ you’re an AΘenian too!”.
Athens International Airport’s Memoranda with 18 airports In October 2013, 18 “City Pair airports”, signed with Athens International Airport Memoranda of Cooperation, in the framework of the 1st Airport Chief Executives’ Symposium (ACES – Athens), an AIA initiative aiming to boost the attractiveness and the dynamics of the city of Athens as a top international destination. This “airport alliance” was sealed by the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, as announced during the Symposium by the Greek Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni.
Click here for the campaign “PerhaΨ you’re an AΘenian too” http://www.aia.gr/media/photos/AthensTravelsEN/index.html
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