Author Victoria Hislop to promote Greek Tourism

British best-selling author Victoria Hislop said she is interested to work with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) to transform some of her short stories into films that will “introduce people to a different side of Greece”.

Hislop has written several books based in Greece including the best-selling novel ‘The Island’. She expressed her interest addressing a press conference held by the GNTO at World Travel Market (WTM) London 2018.

After expressing her admiration for Greece and describing her visit to Serifos, Hislop revealed that she is discussing the possibility of the GNTO sponsoring short films based on her short stories, which are set off the beaten track in locations such as monasteries and small, little-known villages.

The short stories, which are aimed to be filmed next year are expected to be screened in 2020. The films are likely to be popular as the final episode of the recent TV adaptation of ‘The Island’ had a viewership of around 75 per cent.

“They will take people below the surface and introduce them to another side of Greece, away from the seaside resorts because it would be a shame to visit Greece and see only the beach,” Hislop said.

“Spring is the best time to go hiking in Greece and experience the wild flowers, and to visit Athens and Thessaloniki in the winter, when the heat is less oppressive,” she said.

“The aim to establish Greece as a 365- day destination is now becoming a reality. Greece’s tourism industry had “performed a small miracle for the Greek economy, which has grown 2.1 per cent this year and is expected to grow a further 2.5 per cent in 2019, its highest rate of growth for 10 years,” said Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura.