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Halkidiki Tourism Organization Optimistic About Arrivals From Russia
Posted On 26 Mar 2014
MITT 2014 – The president of the Halkidiki Tourism Organization, Grigoris Tassios (left) with Greek tourism professionals at the booth of the Region of Central Macedonia.
Although early bookings from Russia to Halkidiki for this tourism season are currently down by 15 percent, the Halkidiki Tourism Organization appears optimistic following its participation in the Moscow International Exhibition Travel & Tourism (MITT) that took place 19-22 March.
According to an announcement, the organization predicts arrivals from Russia to Halkidiki to be on the same pace as last year (150,000).
The organization said the decrease in Russian bookings this year was due to:
– the drop of the Russian ruble against the euro (2013: 39 rubles=1 euro, 2014: 50 rubles=1 euro) that makes travel packages more expensive by 20-25 percent,
– political and economic developments in Ukraine.
The Halkidiki Tourism Organization participated in MITT in collaboration with the Region of Central Macedonia in a 20 square-meter booth within the 800 square-meter stand of the Greek National Tourism Organization. Major Russia-based tourism offices of Greek interests helped promote the destination to the Russians.
At MITT, a presentation of Halkidiki as a safe tourism destination took place on the sidelines of an event held by Mouzenidis Group that attracted over 250 Russian tourism professionals. A draw followed and 20 free vacations to Halkidiki were given out.
In 2013 Greece was ranked third most popular destination for Russian tourists, up from seventh place in 2012, according to data released by the Russian Statistics Service (Rosstat).
To whom it may concern,
First of all, i would like to tell you that, me and my husband are the people who really love your country and your people. We visit different cities and regions of your country for vacation at least 4-5 times in a year.
I would like to tell you an unpleasent situation that we had in Santa Catalina Hotel, in Halkidiki / Kalyves Polygyrou region.
We booked a triple room for a night for 31st of August. We reached to hotel at 9 am. Even if she didn’t welcome us, a lady started to shout as “where are you going?!” When we responded as “to reception”, she shouted again “i am the reception! And it is too earl for check-in. Our check-in time is 3 pm!”. We didn’t reject, told her that we would come again after 3 pm, and left the hotel.
At 7 pm again we went to hotel, made our check-in prosedures and payment. The same lady brought us to a flat which has 2 rooms. There was no pillow or bed sheet on any mattress, they were not ready yet. With a really kind attitude, i told the lady “in the morning you shouted us because of we had came early and you said that your check-in time is 3 pm. Even the time is 7 pm, our room and beds are not ready yet.” Before i finished my sentence, she started to shout again and said “if you don’t like go out!”. She told the same sentence again and again.
We are so unhappy because of this unrespectful attitude of Santa Catalina Hotel.
Would you be so kind as, what can i do to make this hotel to get a panilty? I kindly request for your help and reply about this matter.
Thank you in advance,
Yours sincerely,
Senem KOCAK