connect with us
Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

Tourism High on EU Agenda

European tour operators have given a broad welcome to the inclusion of tourism as a new item in the proposed EU Constitution. A clause on tourism has emerged in the latest draft of the Constitution for discussion among ministers and stakeholders in the member states of the...

International Investor Sees Tourism As Greece’s Only Economic Engine

The Greek economy can advance and prosper in the international environment only if it develops itself to cater to up-market tourism and wealthy foreigners wishing to acquire holiday homes, said well-known investor and American fund manager, George Soros, during a recent visit to...

Greece Airways Welcomed to Athens International

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos last month welcomed Greece Airways to the Athens airport community. The new airline, a subsidiary of Air Scotland but with Greek participation, recently launched two weekly scheduled services (every Monday & Friday) that...

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...

EU Agrees to Share Air Passenger Information with USA

The European Union (EU) will sign a long-debated air passenger data transfer agreement with the United States despite opposition from the European Parliament (EP), said Jonathan Todd, a spokesman from the European Commission (EC), late last month.

EU Enlargement Creates Coherent European Tourism Industry

The enlargement of the European Union, with ten new members joining in May, will help create a "more complete and coherent European tourism industry, which should be recognized in the future European Constitution," according to the World Tourism Organization.

Tourism Development Depends On You

If we want the Greek tourism sector to develop at a satisfactory pace, we in the private sector must take it upon ourselves to do so, said speakers at the recent "The Need to Create a Tourism Development Strategy" conference held last month in Athens.

Ekaterinari Asimina Xirotiri

For several years Greece's tourism policy has focused on improving and differentiating the tourism offer in order to attract the quality traveler. According to announcements, the principle of viable development through the protection and promotion of the natural and cultural...

Air France-KLM Deal Just the Beginning

Air France's planned takeover of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which would create Europe's largest airline, may just be the beginning of a trend as airline carriers look to ways to cooperate and cut costs after two years of extensive losses.

Blue Star Ferries Continues to Increase Overall Traffic on Ferry Routes

Blue Star Ferries managed to increase passenger traffic on the Piraeus-Chania route by some 43% during the month of July when compared with traffic on the route in July of last year. Its vessel Blue Star 2, which was placed on the route this year for the first time, covered...

Tourism Resolution For New EU Constitution

European parliamentarian Kostas Hatzidakis recently put forth a resolution for tourism to be included in the European Union's new constitution. The resolution was adopted by the European Parliament Committee for Regional Policy, Transportation and Tourism.

Europe Gets Ready To Fly

The European Commission won the right on June 5 to start talks with the United States on airport landing rights, in a move destined to lead to a wholesale shake-up of transatlantic aviation.

Another Record Year for Blue Flag Awards

Two recent very notable announcements allow Greece to boast as perhaps being the country with the world's best and cleanest swimming waters in the world. It began last month when the country was awarded a record 373 Blue Flags this year for its clean beaches and safe swimming...

A Common EU Tourism Policy Possible and Likely

The informal meeting last month of EU development ministers and tourism officials on the island of Crete laid the foundations for drafting a common tourism policy in the European Union by proposing specific measures on tourism promotion and communication.

Tourism Council Meets With Aim to Develop into Positive Forum

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, after chairing last month's meeting of the National Tourism Council, said his government plans to take steps to reinforce the tourism industry in the event war breaks out with Iraq. He mentioned the creation of a committee to propose...

Tourism Sector Weakened By Strong Euro

The strength of the euro against the dollar brings some opportunities to the forefront for Greek travelers to countries outside of the EU. The same applies to travelers from other European Union countries, including Greece's main markets of Germany and Britain, who may forsake...

The Rise and Fall of Greece’s Top Name in Travel

A few years back, many in the travel industry would point to Manos Travel as an example of how to succeed in the business. The company started from a small office and through pioneering ideas grew by leaps and bounds into the biggest and most successful in the country.

Travel Trade Concerned But Optimistic For 2003 Tourism Year

Despite ominous forecasts, Greek hoteliers and travel agents are somewhat optimistic for this year's tourism sector. They feel Greece this year most likely will have fewer than anticipated losses thanks to its six-month EU presidency, which is expected to be a boon for the...

Greece EU Presidency Features Open Skies Policy

When Greece assumes the European Union presidency on January 1, for a six-month period, its transportation brief will include a member states' agreement to award the European Commission a wide-ranging mandate to negotiate a bilateral USA-EU "open skies" agreement.

Cyprus Airways To Create Greek Subsidiary

Either through a Greek subsidiary airline or through an alliance with a private Greek carrier, Cyprus Airways is about to take on Olympic Airways. The Cypriot flag carrier says it will concentrate on international flights out of Greece and perhaps team up with a private Greek...