Greece has officially signed an outline deal with Dubai’s Emirates airline, which includes a codeshare agreement with the Greek air carrier Aegean Airlines. This arrangement is aimed at attracting more tourists to Greece throughout the year. According to the Greek Tourism Ministry’s statement, the codeshare agreement will improve access to popular destinations, such as the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes.

Tourism is crucial for Greece, which is located at the southernmost point of Europe. The country heavily relies on tourism revenue, which is currently threatened by rising temperatures, wildfires, and floods attributed to climate change. Last year, Greece generated 21.5 billion euros (approximately $24 billion) from tourism, surpassing the previous year’s record of 20.6 billion euros.

The Middle East, including the Emirates, is also looking to attract more tourists as part of efforts to diversify economies that have predominantly depended on oil revenue.