AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM

The Republic of Turkey and the Hellenic Republic, hereinafter called the 'Parties',

Recognising the importance of tourism in promoting economic development, mutual understanding, good will and close relations between peoples,

Bearing in mind the Status of World Tourism Organization and the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Tourism and International Travel held in Rome in 1963, the relevant provisions in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Helsinki on August 1, 1975, and the provisions of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe of 1990,

Wishing to establish a close and effective cooperation in the field of tourism, have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1
The Parties, within the framework of this Agreement and in accordance with the legislation of their countries, shall seek to develop and strengthen the cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries.

ARTICLE 2
The Parties shall facilitate tourist traffic between their countries in accordance with their respective laws and regulations and with prejudice to their international obligations and will encourage the cooperation between enterprises and organisations operating in the field of tourism. In this context, mutual visits, meetings and seminars between entities operating in the field of tourism shall be encouraged and organised.

Furthermore and in order that their respective tourist attractions and worth seeing sights become mutually known, the Parties shall encourage tourist promotion between the two countries through the exchange of information and promotional materials.

ARTICLE 3
The Parties shall communicate to each other the incentives for Tourist investments provided by their laws and regulations and inform each other about the existing possibilities for such investments.

ARTICLE 4
The Parties shall give emphasis on the exchange of know-how and practical experience in the field of tourism between enterprises, organisations and institutions operating in this field.

ARTICLE 5
The Parties shall cooperate for ensuring sustainable tourist development and promotion of special forms of tourism, such as ecotourism, youth tourism, cultural tourism, faith tourism etc.

ARTICLE 6
The Parties shall exchange information and documentation concerning research, statistics and legislation in the field of tourism.

ARTICLE 7
The Parties shall cooperate in the field of vocational training. They shall therefore initiate an exchange program between their respective entities competent for such training. This program shall include educational trips and attendance of specially structured seminars, aiming to offer the participants knowledge of the modus operandi in the relevant branches of the tourism sector of each country.

ARTICLE 8
The Parties agree upon the need for a deeper mutual cultural approach as a basic motive in travelling and tourism and they commit themselves to encourage such an approach between the two countries. In this context, cultural events and festivals aiming at reinforcing the mutual tourist movement shall, inter alia, be encouraged and organised.

ARTICLE 9
The Parties, in order to stimulate the tourist flows from third countries into their countries, shall encourage bilateral cooperation between the representatives of the tourism sectors of both countries including the coordination of their activities within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Article 10 The Parties shall encourage bilateral cooperation in the field of yachting in accordance with their respective laws and regulations and without prejudice to their international obligations.

ARTICLE 11
A Joint Tourism Committee, composed of an equal number of authorised representatives from each Party, shall steer and supervise the implementation of the present agreement. In the meetings of the Joint Tourism Committee, representatives of the private tourist sector may also be invited to participate.

The Committee's meetings will take place alternately in each of the two countries at such time as agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

ARTICLE 12
This Agreement shall enter into force upon the date upon which both parties will have notified each other, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of the legal formalities required in each country for the entry into force of the Agreement.

This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years from the date of entry into force and shall thereafter be automatically renewed each time for additional five-year periods, unless denounced by notification through diplomatic channels by one of the Parties at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of each period.

Done in duplicate in Ankara on 20th January, 2000, in the Turkish, Greek and English languages. All texts are equally authentic.

In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Turkey           For the Hellenic Republic
Ismail CEM                                   George A. PAPANDREOU
Minister of Foreign Affairs            Minister of Foreign Affairs