The City of Athens Development Company and Shanghai Jiushi Travel (Group) Co., Ltd., a member of the eponymous Group, which is one of the most important state-owned tourism and transport service providers in China, have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement in the field of tourism.

At the event held at the Athens City Hall, the CEO of Athens Development Corporation S.A., Ioannis Georgizas, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shanghai Jiushi Group, Guo Jianfei, in the presence of the Vice Mayor of Economic Planning of the Municipality of Athens, Giorgos Giannaros, the Vice President of the Athens Development Company, Alexis Galenos, the Director of the Mayor’s Office, Maro Bandeka, and executives from both organizations, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the next three years. The agreement is part of the framework for strengthening relations between Athens and Shanghai and provides for close cooperation in the fields of cultural tourism, exchange of know-how and joint promotion of innovative tourism products and activities.

Mr.Georgizas, after welcoming the Chinese delegation to Athens, referred to the work of the Athens Development Corporation as the main operational arm of the municipality and spoke warmly about the relationship between the two cities, which in the last year, through the Municipality of Athens, has been significantly strengthened in all areas.

“Our cooperation with Shanghai Jiushi Travel is an essential step for the extroversion of Athens and the strengthening of its cultural and tourist footprint at an international level. With strategic partnerships such as this, we are strengthening Athens’ position as a city-break destination, but also as a model destination for conference tourism. Shanghai is a model city for us in integrating transport, tourism and culture as a single sustainable model. Through this MoU, we look forward to a fruitful cooperation for the benefit of both cities.”

For his part, Mr. Jianfei thanked the representatives of the Municipality of Athens for the hospitality at the City Hall and presented with his associates the activities of the Chinese group, stressing the importance of cooperation with the Municipality of Athens for the further development of tourism between the two cities.

Shanghai Jiushi Group has been operating in China since 1987, implementing major projects under the guidance of the State and Shanghai Municipality in five main business sectors: urban transport, sports industry, real estate, capital management and cultural tourism industry. As of June 2024, the Group’s total consolidated assets stand at 720 billion yuan (89.4 billion euros). Shanghai Jiushi manages 13 subsidiaries – including Jiushi Travel – as well as two professional sports clubs, and employs around 50,000 people.

Shanghai Jiushi Travel specializes in tourism and its core activities include – among others – marine tourism and marine transport, as well as hotel and tourism services. Capitalizing on Shanghai’s development as a world-renowned tourist city, Jiushi Travel focuses on investment and development of tourist destinations, developing cultural tourism products and specialized travel services.