16 Chinese couples to be group married on Crete

In her message to the couples - who are escorted by another 32 Chinese couples intending to get married, 56 relatives and a 20-strong group of journalists - Kefalogianni suggested that the message they should convey to China when they return home is, "Greece is a safe and hospitable country which can offer unforgettable, unique experiences. It is a place with inexhaustible stimuli, natural environment, cultural heritage, nice lifestyle, gastronomy and is the cradle of modern civilization."

The couples and their group will visit Rethimno, Aghios Nikolas and Heraklion before visiting Santorini island as their last stop of their Aegean tour. The whole process will be recorded on video, with the footage to be used in an advertisement spot to be presented in the Shanghai tourism week in the framework of Greece's aim to gain access to the vast tourist market of China.

The spot will be followed by an ad campaign from the Shanghai municipality, as well as meetings of tourism businessmen and the Greek General Consulate in Shanghai, in order to increase Chinese touristic flows into Greece. This effort has found support from sponsors such as the Shanghai municipality, the Greek passenger ship group ANEK Lines, Greek municipalities and regional authorities, chambers of commerce and hoteliers.