Greece targets conference tourism growth and infrastructure upgrades at Growthfund Investor Summit 2026

At the Growthfund Investor Summit 2026, Greek officials and industry leaders outlined a plan to turn Greece into a leading conference‑tourism destination and a strategic trade and energy corridor. Dr Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association, highlighted Greece’s strong brand, culture and gastronomy as competitive advantages and called for large‑scale investments to attract mid‑size conferences, which account for about 70 % of global events. A partnership between the Hyperfund and ICCA was announced to create a "one‑stop shop" for organisers. Public‑private projects were showcased, including Fraport Greece’s €1.7 bn of airport upgrades over the past decade and annual €50 m spending on maintenance and capacity expansion, driving a 48 % rise in passenger traffic to roughly 38 million this year and an expectation of over 1 bn passengers by the end of its concession. Minister Christos Dimas described Greece as a "bridge of stability" linking Europe, the Balkans, the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, stressing supply‑chain resilience and the need for rail, water and energy network upgrades, storage, interconnections and port development (Alexandroupoli, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Elefsina, Lavrio). ETAD presented plans to convert historic assets such as the closed Tae Kwon Do arena and the Thessaloniki City Hall into conference centres, using a "DNA" approach to maximise each site’s potential. Participants estimated that Greece needs an additional €15 bn in annual investment and emphasized corporate‑governance standards and political stability to attract foreign capital.