Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO)

The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is a Public Entity (PE) supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The GNTO was first established in 1927 and re-established in 1950 by Emergency Act 1565/50, ratified by law 1624/51); in the meantime, tourism fell under the competence of various ministries. Since 1950, the GNTO constitutes the ruling state agency for the tourism sector.

According to law 3270/04 (Government Gazette 187/Α/11.10.2004), GNTO consists of the Head Office located in Athens and the Regional Departments of Tourism (as of 01.01.2005). The structure of the GNTO's services and the competences of each unit are included in Presidential Decree 343/2001 (Gov. Gazette no 231 A). Other institutions that are supervised by the Ministry of Tourism, according to law 3270/04 (Government Gazette 187/Α/11.10.2004), are:

• The Organisation of Tourism Education and Training (O.T.E.K.)
• The Tourism Development Co. (ex-Hellenic Tourist Properties SA)
• The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels
• Public Entities that in compliance with existing legislation are supervised by the Ministry of Tourism
• Companies and all sorts of enterprises in which the above-mentioned public entities are exclusive or majority shareholders.