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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

Hoteliers Cautious On Tourism Residential Accommodation

Greek hoteliers consider the tourism residential accommodation a necessary measure but under certain conditions, according to a survey carried out recently by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

Main Opposition Party Presents Tourism Manifesto

Main opposition party New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras triggered an angry reaction from the Culture and Tourism Ministry last month when he invited the Greek Government to establish a National Tourism Council among parties, social partners and collective agencies in the...

Deputy Minister Holds Talks With Russian Tour Operators

Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis met with seven leading Russian tour operators last month and discussed further actions to boost the upward trend of Russian visits to Greece.

Minister Wants To Abolish Greece-Turkey Visa Restrictions

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos recently spoke about the obstacles posed by the European Union in regards to the abolition of visa restrictions in travel to and from Turkey, during a recent interview to Turkish National TV broadcaster TRT.

Hoteliers Criticize Restaurant VAT Hike

The increase of the VAT for restaurant services in Greek hotels from 13 to 23 percent (a 77 percent hike) would reduce the competitiveness of the country’s tourism product, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said recently in an announcement.

Domestic Tourism Expected To Drop This Year

Domestic tourism is expected to show a reduction of some 20 percent this year as the economic crisis is keeping Greeks home, according to recent estimations of Greek tourism professionals.

January-July Arrivals On The Up

Prior to the three-week taxi strike, Greece saw an increase in international arrivals by 9.95 percent compared to last year, according to data compiled by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) from 13 of Greece’s major airports for the January-July 2011 period.

Greek Cabbies Suspend Strikes, Bookings Canceled

Some 20 percent of bookings to Greece were canceled for the mid August-October period during the three-week strike of Greek taxi owners and drivers, press reports said last month. Tourism professionals stressed the taxi strike cost Greek tourism 250,000-300,000 bookings and...

Mykonos And Santorini Among Top Destinations

Mykonos and Santorini were included among the top tourism destinations in the world last month, according to reader surveys of two major U.S. travel magazines.

Special Olympics 2011 Benefits To Greece Discussed

“The Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 delivered multiple benefits to Greece that included some 300,000 overnight stays, thousands of sea and air travel arrivals and increased tourism traffic,” president of the Special Olympics Organizing Committee Athens 2011,...

Posidonia Forum An Eye Opener For Tourism Sector

“Cruise tourism is a key to the government’s overall policy,” Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos said during his opening speech at the first Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum held at the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens on 21-22 June.

Laganas Tourism Image Questioned

The tourism image of Laganas, Zakynthos, and the resort’s notorious reputation was questioned last month after a 19-year-old British tourist was stabbed to death and four other holidaymakers injured following a brawl with a local taxi driver.

Taxi Driver Protest Disrupts Travel In Greece

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos last month appealed to Greek taxi drivers to not hit tourism during their mobilizations, as “such protests do not help the country and do not help tourism.”

Faliro Delta To Become Biggest Park In Athens

“This park will become a new destination in the city,” renowned architect Renzo Piano said while presenting the final architectural plans for the development of the Faliro Delta in late June to the Greek media. The plans were funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Tourism Residential Accommodation Policy Tabled

Greek tourism will soon see new arrangements that include the establishment of the long awaited tourism residential accommodation, according to the Finance Ministry’s omnibus bill tabled in Parliament last month aimed to tackle Greece’s financial crisis.

Minister Brings Good News From Key Markets

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos last month expressed optimism in regards to the number of arrivals from Greece’s new target markets: Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey.

Professionals Call For Protection Of Tourism

“Greece is a country that offers an excellent tourism product and this should not be tarnished in any way,” Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos said in a statement recently in regards to the impact violent events in Athens had left on tourism during the 28-29 June...

Protests in Athens Upset Hotel Bookings

Only a few days after the violent anti-austerity protests that took place 28-29 June at Syntagma Square, central Athens, some 8,000 booking cancelations in 20 of Athens hotels were recorded, Athens-Attica Hoteliers Association President Yiannis Retsos told journalists last month.

Incoming Tourism To Greece On Positive Pace

While the Greek capital counted losses last month in bookings and revenue due to violent protests at Syntagma Square in late June that resulted to some 20,000 cancelations in 21 central hotels in Athens, tourism traffic for the rest of Greece showed positive signs.

Club Hotel Loutraki’s CEO Receives Award

In late June the Ambassador of Austria in Athens, Dr. Michael Linhart (right), honored Antonis Stergiotis, president and CEO of Club Hotel Loutraki SA and manager of Club Hotel Casino Loutraki, with a gold medal.