International specialists last month met in Piraeus to unveil a plan to limit the damage from a devastating oil spill caused after Israeli raids on a Lebanon power plant. The specialists warned that some of the 15,000 to 30,000 tons of escaped fuel oil could affect the shores of...
The Arab-Hellenic Chamber in cooperation with the Messinia Chamber organized a humanitarian aid effort to ease some of the suffering in war-torn Lebanon.
Greece is one of four partner countries, namely, Cyprus, Italy and Malta, involved in a program to develop a Mediterranean standard for sustainable tourism (MSST).
In celebration of its new 110,000-ton ship, Carnival Freedom, next summer Carnival Cruise Lines will offer new itineraries that feature the Greek islands and other Mediterranean destinations.
Creating a network of culture and tourism in the Mediterranean region is a focus of the EU's Daedalus project presented last month by Agrotouristiki SA to tourism ministry staff and travel agency and hotel representatives. The three-year project, with a 2.5 million euro budget,...
Last month Qatar Airways, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, completed its first year of successful operations in Athens. The company's acceptance in the Greek market, by both individuals and travel agents, exceeded all expectations and is driving the company to boost...
The first interregional plan for the development of religious tourism has been approved. It forms part of the EU's Interreg III B program, implemented by Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Malta. The body responsible for the program here is the Greek National Tourism Organization, in...
Government officials last month promised to keep Olympic Airways flying over the summer, despite a fresh European Union warning over illegal aid. They also insisted that there were groups who were interested in purchasing the airline.
Government and its consultant firm, Lazard, along with three banks (National, Emboriki, Alpha), published a call for tenders last month in foreign financial papers for the sale of Olympic Airlines' subsidiary company Galileo Hellas.
Greece continues to lose ground as a preferred tourism destination. In 2004, Greece placed 16th as a tourism destination choice worldwide, a drop from 13th in 2002, according to the findings of a recent study titled, "The Challenge of Competitiveness and Redefining Greek Tourism...
Cyprus's loss-making national carrier, Cyprus Airways, will shed more than a quarter of its work force this year to save the airline from closure, senior officials said last month.
An investment group announced last month that it plans to spend, in the medium term, up to 1 billion euros in Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Turkey to develop organized tourism accommodation complexes, mainly for northern Europeans. In Greece its interest focuses on the Peloponnese,...
Although among the world's best, Greece's hotels are not aware of the benefits of brand names, according to a recent study. The 2005 Greek Hotel Branding Report, which is the first of its kind for the Greek tourism market, explores the extent of branding among Greek hotels and...
The fourth annual tourism conference organized by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises welcomed speakers from 10 countries this year. On opening the conference, the association's president, Stavros Andreadis, said that since the last conference there has been no change in...
The strong rise in the number of foreign visitors this year should not cause officials to relax their efforts to solve the problems of the tourism industry, the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises said last month.
SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, last month welcomed top tourism professionals to its annual Mexican Food Festival organized with the cooperation of the Athenaeum Intercon-tinental and the local Mexican embassy. This marks the fourth year in succession for the festival.
A Cypriot-based Helios Airways passenger jet, Helios Flight 522, crashed into a mountainside near Marathon, and about 40 kilometers north of Athens, on Sunday, August 14. All 121 people aboard, including the six crewmembers, were killed. Debris from the crash was spread at least...
Recent press reports say that more than 60 private Greek islands are up for sale and have peaked the interest of domestic and foreign investors, and international tourism groups.
With new ideas, new management and a strong 2004 participation to work with, the organizers of Philoxenia say the Greek travel fair has entered a new era. Last year, the fair welcomed 10% more general visitors and saw a 140% increase in foreign commercial visitors when compared...
