The dynamics of the island as a tourist destination was also reflected in the large number of visitors to the stand at the International Tourism Exhibition MATKA 2025
Greece is a leading destination for Finns, with increasing trends, according to data from the competent Finnish body, while Crete emerges as the first choice among Greek destinations, leaving the best impressions at the International Tourism Exhibition MATKA 2025 held from 16 to 19 January in Helsinki, Finland.
According to the participating tourism agencies of the island and officials of the Region, this is the most important event for the promotion of tourist destinations in the Finnish market. The Region of Crete participated with a double booth in the stand of the Hellenic Tourism Organization as a co-exhibitor, while its delegation was made up of the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou and executives from Chania. The stand was visited by the ambassador of Greece in Finland, Natalia Karageorgiou, who was offered honorary gifts that characterize Crete, while the special contribution of the head of the EOT Office for Scandinavia and the Baltic States, Maria Zevgoula, was highlighted in the organization and in the immediate response to unforeseen problems.
As the Deputy Governor of Tourism said, Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou, who met with tourism agents, “Greece is always first in the preferences of Finns, and Crete is in the lead. The Nordic markets honored us with 650,000 visitors in 2024, a number that was exceeded in 2019, but with the Nordics now owning 37.0% of West Crete visitors, compared to 47% in 2019! This, combined with the fact that MATKA 2025 sold out of our promotional material at its end, shows both the resilience of Crete, but also the fact that in 2025 we expect a new Nordic record of arrivals and revenue, alongside an expansion into the cooler months of Crete, everywhere”.
The dynamics of Crete as a tourist destination, according to the factors of the exhibition, was also reflected in the large number of visitors to the stand, who requested information on all areas of Crete, east and west, north and south, but also on all species tourism. They were interested in family holiday hotels, adult hotels, short-term and long-term rental accommodation, caravanning and camping. They also asked for information about beaches, tourist attractions, marine tourism, golf, traditions and culture. The visitors also showed a special interest in Cretan flavors and were informed about Cretan gastronomy.
The mandated regional adviser in the field of Culture and Education in the Chania Regional Unit, Sofia Malandraki-Krasoudaki, the head of the Tourism Department of the Chania Regional Unit Emmanuel Volikakis, the partner of the Chania Tourism Department Tasos Diamantakis and the tour guide Vaso Katsantoni, referred to the enthusiasm of the Finns. about Crete, pointing out that some had already visited one area of Crete and planned to complete their experience in another area, while some had visited the island, being younger, and wanted to come again with their children or even grandchildren their. A large number of visitors were elderly people who, as it was found, prefer oral or printed information over or as a supplement to electronic information.
