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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

A note by the publisher

Λίγο πριν κλείσει η ύλη του τεύχους Μαρτίου, μας προέκυψε η συνέντευξη τύπου της τρόικας και η έντονη αναστάτωση που προκλήθηκε από αυτήν. Πολλοί εμφανίζονται ενοχλημένοι από τις παραινέσεις, συστάσεις, προτάσεις, υποδείξεις ή όπως αλλιώς θέλετε να τις πούμε, για μείω...

No Delay in New Tourism Legislation

There will be little or no delay in Greece's new tourism legislation, according to the outgoing tourism development minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos. He said the only thing missing from the new legislation is the signature of Greece's health minister, and “being the country's new...

Prime Minister Labels Tourism National Importance

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis showed his personal interest in the tourism sector last month when he opened this year's general assembly of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. During his speech, he labeled tourism as a sector of national importance for the country's...

Tourism Organization President Now Optimistic

At his first confrontation with the press, Hellenic Tourism Organization President Haris Kokkossis said that he expects this year's tourism arrival figures to stay at the same level as last year. (In an interview days earlier, the newly appointed president had said that he...

Tourism Sector Gets Promised Ministry

As promised, the new government has created a Greek tourism ministry. The newly appointed minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and his deputy, Anastassios Liaskos, for the moment are the "guests" of Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas until appropriate tourism ministry offices are...

Planned New Convention Center Includes New Hotel

The Attica hotel owners association met with the head of Hellenic Tourism Properties recently to discuss the construction of a convention center at the old Athens International Airport at Hellenikon. When and if completed, the center will accommodate 8,000 participants. A hotel...

19th Philoxenia Uneventful

Greece's tourism fair Philoxenia 2003, October 30-November 2, arrived and left this year with little fanfare. For the most part, exhibitors simply said that like every other year the exhibition gives us a chance to see some old friends and business acquaintances. But this year,...

New Decree to Ease Sale of Properties for Tourism Development

A presidential decree ready to be signed opens the way for tourism development projects on large land plots by the private sector. Projects would combine hotel resorts and holiday home complexes that would be up for sale or taken on a long-term lease basis, according to recent...

A New Tourism Complex for Peloponnesos

Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos unveiled plans to build a state-of-the-art tourism complex that would include popular alternate forms of tourism such as spa, marine and golf facilities.

Charter for Athens Convention, Exhibitions and Visitors Bureau Signed

After two years of efforts, four of the country's major tourism organizations got together last month to sign the founding charter of the Athens Convention, Exhibitions and Visitors Bureau (Athens CVB). The founding member organizations included the Hellenic Association of Travel...

Hellenic Tourism Properties Heads for Bourse

The government will float 25 percent of Hellenic Tourism Properties (ETA) by November as part of its state asset sales agenda to reduce debt, eying proceeds of about 150 million euros, ETA officials said during a press conference last month. "The flotation will take place in...

Prime Minister Believes SETE Could Be the Tourism Industry’s Link with Government

Prime Minister Costas Simitis told the 11th annual meeting of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) last month that he realized the strong euro, the universal economic slowdown and the Iraq war have adversely affected Greek tourism. He also said that he favored SETE...

Tourism and Development Conference Concentrated on Tourism Promotion

Greek Tourism Enterprises Association President Stavros Andreadis told delegates at the opening of last month's Tourism and Development Conference, which was organized by the association, that much more money must be spent on the promotion of Greece abroad. He suggested that all...

Major Renovation Projects for Greece’s Border Points

In cooperation with the development, interior and culture ministries, as well as regional authorities, Hellenic Tourism Properties signed an agreement with a private-sector firm to carry out quality renovation works at Greece's five main in-land border points: Evzones, Promahona,...

Athens Convention Bureau Taken Off Back Burner

Many years have passed since the local tourism trade called for the creation of a conference and visitor's bureau for the Athens area. Since then, not a single positive step has been taken, but the idea remains as not only a viable one but also a vital one to implement.

Bumper Year For Greek Casinos

The privatization of the Mont Parnes Casino is entering its final stage. Hyatt Regency together with construction company Hellenic Technodomiki have submitted one of the offers, while another bid came from the group of Club Hotel Loutraki, Piraeus Bank, the construction companies...

Tourism Properties Under Private Management

Hellenic Tourism Properties is about to turn its management over to the private sector.

Marine Development Profitable

The first phase of the bidding process for the privatization of the Alimos, Floisvos and Zea marinas conducted by the Hellenic Tourism Properties is completed. And some very powerful business groups are among those that will continue to participate in the final stage.

Full Speed Ahead For New Tourism Products

A theme park inspired by ancient Greek mythology opens in the Anavyssos area, south of Athens, in 2004 and by when all phases are fully completed, in 2006, the park is expected to attract up to 1.2 million visitors per year.

Unrestrained Optimism For Greek Tourism

If anything was crystal clear at the last month's Destination Greece conference organized by the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, it was that Greece has a fantastic opportunity to develop its tourism sector. All that's needed is the decision.
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