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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages (gtp)

Greek Marinas Go Private

Three of the Greek capital’s most popular marinas are about to go private.  Last month, just two days after it handed over the operation and upgrading of five state-owned beaches in the Attica basin to the private sector, Hellenic Tourism Properties (ETA), announced plans...

60 Business Groups Bid for Parnitha Casino

Owners of the profitable Parnitha Casino, Hellenic Tourism Properties, have called for bids of interest from international investors interested in taking over the management of the casino on Mount Parnes. So far, some 60 company groups have expressed initial interest.

Tourism Sector Good But Needs Improvement

Domestic tourists, and some foreign visitors, are not happy with the services offered by Greek tourism enterprises. According to the General Federation for Consumer Protection in Greece (INKA), initial data show the tourism sector as a whole needs to upgrade its services and find...

Afantou Golf Expansion Planned

Between 30 billion and 40 billion drachmas worth of expansion projects are planned for the Afantou area on the island of Rodos. Proposed projects include a 3-lane golf course, a hotel and auxiliary lodgings, commercial units, and a hotel marina.

International Advisor To Apply Greek Hotel Star System

The long awaited star system for Greek hotels may finally get off the ground later this year. The Hellenic Tourism Organization has called for an international advisor to assist in the implementation of hotel categorization through an international star system it has partially...

First Batch Of Promotional Funds Handed Over To EOT

Hellenic Tourism Properties handed over some two billion drachmas to the Hellenic Tourism Organization (EOT) recently as the first payment for the organization's tourism advertising campaigns abroad, which covers the majority of debt owed for same. As well, it's now official:...

Hellenic Tourism Properties Heads For Bourse

Along with the privatization of its casinos, Hellenic Tourism Properties will privatize itself. The first step was taken last month with the sale of convertible privatization bonds, or pre-stock (prometoxa), worth 800 million euros (272.6 billion drachmas), which is about a 25%...

Airline Specialist Takes Over Tourism General Secretariat

Demetris Georgarakis, an electronic engineer with some 20 years experience in the airline sector (Olympic Airways) has been appointed to head the newly created tourism general secretariat, which is directly under the development ministry.

Offers In For Attica Beach Properties

Hellenic Tourism Properties called on the three consortiums that had bid for 10-year concession contracts for five state-run Athens beaches to improve their offers, both in the line of the lease fees and improvement works promised.

Tourism Institute Says Tourism Arrivals Will Drop This Year

Private sector tourism professionals say we are in for a bad year, but the government's tourism organization insists that we'll see another increase in arrivals this year. The end result will most likely be somewhere in between.

Kandor Report Outlines Greece’s Tourism Disadvantages

A strong seasonal character, uneven geographical distribution, low per-capita spending of tourists and the absence of international hotel chains appear to be the disadvantages of the Greek tourism industry, according to an annual report.

Athens No Longer Considered A Saturated Area For New Hotel Units

Some 20 new hotels with a total capacity of some 5.000 beds and costing an estimated 100 billion drachmas are expected to be built in Attica over the years leading up to the 2004 Olympics, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said last month.

Tourist Enterprises Get EU Funding For Modernization

A total of 596.5 billion drachmas will be absorbed by the Greek tourism sector over the next five years with help from the Third EU Structural Fund and corresponding private investment, says Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis. Much of the funds will aim at bringing these...

Greek Tourist Enterprises Enters New Phase

After sitting quietly since its inception some two years ago, the holding company formed to manage the Hellenic Tourism Organization's extensive list of properties seems ready to enter a new phase. At a recent press call to present the company's new chairman, Stefanos...

Major State Investment Program For Tourism

Athens could soon acquire a theme park, an aquarium, a marine research park and more marinas as part of a major two-year investment project by the Hellenic Tourism Organization's new real estate subsidiary, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said last month.

More And More Greeks Head For The Hills

This year, a substantial number of Greek holidaymakers headed for the mountains during the peak July-August vacation period instead of heading for the beaches. "An increase in mountain tourism has been seen in the past few years, even during the summer months," says Thimios...

Tourism Organization Continues Inspections

The Hellenic Tourism Organization last month continued its inspections of tourist resorts and businesses around the country. The organization's secretary general, Evgenios Yiannakopoulos, said that in a single week last month 51 inspectors checked 309 hotel units, 139 tourism...

Structural Changes Planned For The Hellenic Tourism Organization

The executive infrastructure of the Hellenic Tourism Organization changes this month, according to recent statements by Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis. Basic changes expected include the placement of a tourism secretariat under the development ministry. The new...

Astir Resort Expects Five Billion From Stock Float

Greece's National Bank, owner of the Astir Hotel Company, has placed the three-hotel group on the Athens Stock Exchange. The initial public offering last month places 14.7 billion drachmas within the group's coffers. This cash will be used mostly to initiate a five-year...

Tourism Policy Makers Create “Readiness 2000” Package

A package of measures aimed at increasing the level of tourism services offered in Greece was announced recently by Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis. The package, called “Tourism Readiness 2000", is seen as a positive measure and one that provides tourists with some...