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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

EU Unveils Air Traffic Management System

The European Union recently unveiled an ambitious plan for a 20 billion euro air traffic management system to help Europe cope with an expected doubling in the number of flights over the next 15 years.

New EU Ruling Favors Disabled Airline Passengers

Disabled airline passengers and those with reduced mobility had their rights formally regulated last month after a EU proposal. According to the ruling, the responsibility for the care of disabled passengers will now be vested not with the airlines but with the airports who are...

A Surprising Philoxenia

The amount of business done during Philoxenia, Greece's major tourism fair held last month in Thessaloniki, surprised most exhibitors this year. Another surprise was the traffic. Although it wasn't evident, Helexpo, the fair's organizer, said Philoxenia attracted 23,790...

Yet Another New Olympic Airline

A new company is to be launched early next year to replace Olympic Airlines, according to a recent government announcement. This follows the state's latest failed attempt to find a buyer for the country's ailing flag carrier. In mid November, government officially declared that...

European Single Sky Program Ratified

In a landmark occasion for European air transport, the contract for the definition phase for the Single European Sky Implementation Program was ratified on November 17 by 29 partners in the Air Traffic Alliance, the vice president of the European Commission and the director...

Deeper Cooperation Sought Between EU and Regional Airlines

Antonis Simigdalas, president of the association for European Regional Airlines, has asked Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment, and Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, to look at ERA's "A Vision for European Air Transport" as a better...

New Air Travel Regulations for Those with Special Needs

The Association of European Airlines reacted with disappointment last month to the vote in the European Parliament on legislation affecting persons with reduced mobility traveling by air, which would have a direct impact on the services that airlines currently provide for their...

Draft Bill Gives OA Six-month Reprieve

The government drafted a bill last month that protects Olympic Airlines (OA) from its creditors and thus guarantees the airline's smooth operation for at least another six months. The draft amendment bars current or future creditors from taking any action against OA until the end...

EU to Publish List of Unsafe Airlines

The European Union last month received permission from air safety officials to publish a blacklist of unsafe airlines. The list will include companies restricted or suspended from operating their planes to, from or over Europe.

Freedom for Coastal Shipping, or Bust

Alexandros Panagopoulos, president and managing director of Superfast Ferries, told guests at last month's Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises meeting that unless coastal shipping is liberalized, now, the entire sector would fall into decay.

Passenger Compensation EC “Maladministration”

European airlines have launched an attack on new regulations that give passengers stronger rights to compensation for delays and cancellations.

Another Record Year for Blue Flags on Greek Beaches

Greece's tourism industry received another welcome boost last month when the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature announced that 383 of the country's beaches - five more than last year - received the coveted European Union's "Blue Flag" for clean, well-organized beaches....

Government Predicts Substantial Rise in Tourism

Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos last month, during a press call, said that we would see at least a seven percent rise in tourism arrivals this year. He said that according to data received from Hellenic Tourism Organization offices abroad the increase would be...

Delta Air Lines Heads for Bankruptcy Protection

Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. tumbled for a time last month after the nation's third-largest carrier warned it will record a substantial loss for the rest of the year and will need to file for bankruptcy if its cash reserves fall too low, or lenders seek immediate payment of its...

A Call to Save a Greek Tradition

A key element of Greece's tourist allure, the traditional wooden fishing boats that brighten many an island harbor, is facing a major threat of extinction due to EU policies and government indifference, activists warned last month.

More Business Travel This Year

Business travel is on the rise, according to recent research analyses. American Express, for example, predicts that overall travel costs for corporations will increase by around 3% this year, as business travel continues to recover and travel demand increases. It says that...

Ferry Owners Confront Government with Demands

The Union of Coastal Shipowners late last month presented the government with a series of demands they feel must be confronted and solved in order for them to invest in new passenger ships.

New Development Law Receives Positive Reactions

Tourism entrepreneurs were generally positive to the government's new investment incentives bill, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises and contains a special chapter on tourism.

Now or Never for Greek Tourism

Perhaps the best and most professional tourism conference ever organized in Athens was organized and superbly executed last month by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. The conference not only started on time but also started without the usual barrage of empty speeches...

Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau on the Move

Although formed just better than a year ago, the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau, or Athens CVB, is just now getting down to the nitty gritty with regards to enticing conferences to the capital. (The Athens Olympics Organizing Committee kept it busy handling a mounting...