Canada and Greece sign memorandum of understanding on tourism between the countries

MONTREAL — Canada and Greece have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote tourism between the two countries, a type of agreement one tourism expert says will become more common as Canada strengthens its bonds with European Union nations and looks for tourism markets beyond the United States.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada says the agreement signed earlier this week will boost institutional co-operation and recreational travel between the two nations.

“Key areas of focus include institutional co-operation, the exchange of information and data related to travel and tourism, and the sharing of best practices on climate action in tourism,” the federal department said in a press release Thursday.

The department says the trade relationship between the countries has grown in recent years because of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. “In 2024, bilateral merchandise trade with Greece was $645.8 million,” it added.

Mary Ng, Canadian minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, said the agreement will make it “easier for Canadians and Greeks to explore and enjoy each other’s countries while supporting economic prosperity for both.”

For her part, Canada’s Tourism Minister Pascale St-Onge says the agreement will bolster cultural ties between the countries.

Wayne Smith, director at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research, says he expects Canada to sign more memorandums with other EU countries going forward as Canada and Europe grow closer.

“I think you’re going to see a lot more Canadians going to Europe in general and anything that makes it easier or promotes Europe is probably a very good thing at this time because we’re already seeing a shift from U.S. travel,” he said in an interview Saturday.

Many Europeans are also looking to travel to Canada instead of the U.S., he added.

“Both Europe and Canada have realized an overdependence on the U.S. marketplace is probably not healthy for the economies,” Smith said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.