China and Greece, the 2008 and the upcoming Olympic Games hosts, will join hands to explore the large potential of the Olympic tourism market.
 
Tourism officials from both sides made the announcement on Wednesday in Beijing.

Tourist businesses such as travel agencies and hotels in the two counties are encouraged to promote exchanges such as by investing in each other and establishing joint ventures.

The Greek tourism minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said he would urge airlines to open direct fights between Athens and Beijing as soon as possible and hopes Greece will become another tourist destination in Europe for Chinese travellers.

(Chinabroadcast.cn June 10, 2004)