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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

Deadline for New Greek Passports Nears

Government says that more than 85 percent of Greeks have yet to file applications for new passports. The deadline runs out at the end of this year. To handle the expected barrage of applications, the country's public order ministry said it would place more personnel at police...

EU Proposals Aimed at Reforming Aviation Law

The European Commission has prepared several proposals to reform the Single Market legislation for aviation introduced some ten years ago which gave airlines unrestricted market access and permitted them to set fares independently.

New Legislation to Encourage Tourism Investment

Government intends to introduce new legislation shortly that aims to cut huge chunks out of the country's thick bureaucratic approvals process, said Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia last month during her first press call since her appointment in February. She said the new...

Olympic to Continue Flying Throughout Summer

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.

TAROM Continues Rapid Expansion in Greece

The national carrier of Romania, TAROM, first began flying to Greece back in 1957. But it wasn't until a few years back that the carrier decided to center on Greece and expand rapidly.

Panorama Exhibition Moves to Expo Athens Venue

The capital's biggest and most modern exhibition center, Expo Athens, hosts the 11th Panorama Tourism Exhibition this year from May 4 to 7 with more exhibition space than ever before.

Greek Agrotourism Enterprises on the Rise

According to Agrotouristiki, the number of accredited agro-tourism enterprises in Greece reach more than 1,000, with some 600 of these providing accommodation. But just 20 or so of these units are truly agrotourism units that encourage visitors to experience agricultural life at...

Guides Undergo Training as Mountain Specialists

Visitors interested in exploring Greece's mountains now have properly trained official guides, all of which have followed months of training through vocational programs.

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.

ITEP Releases Latest Tourism Data

Although the Institute for Tourism Research has yet to receive clearance from the tourism ministry to take over as the official source of tourism arrival data and the like, as promised by the ministry, it came out last month with arrival statistics. With available data for the...

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...

Vassilis Minaidis

Greece is among the most classic of national tourism destinations. Tourism is a major economic activity and contributes to financial growth, regional employment and the redistribution of natural wealth more than any other productive activity.

New Cut in Rail Times to Thessaloniki

Although delays continue, Greece is taking steps to upgrade its national railway system, which still falls short of European Union standards.

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.

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....

Olympic Airlines’ Bids at 30 Million Euros

From the five bids government has received in an international sale tender for a majority stake in national carrier Olympic Airlines, it appears that government coffers will be lucky to get a cash settlement of about 30 million euros.

Mount Grammos Vies for “Europe’s Most Beautiful” Title

Mount Grammos, known in Greece as one of the bloodiest battlefields of the 1946-49 Civil War, places its natural beauty against the more tranquil Danube River for the 2007-2008 title as the most beautiful nature spot in Europe in the EU-sponsored Landscape of the Year contest.

Rental Room Owners Attend General Assembly

Representatives from the 22 room and apartment rental associations throughout Greece arrived in Athens last month to attend the annual general assembly of the Business Federation of Rented Rooms and Apartments of Greece.

Greek Tourism Revenue Data from Brussels

Greek tourism recorded a net revenue gain of 7.4 billion euros in 2003, according to the official Eurostat data published last month in Brussels. The revenue from tourists who visited Greece came to 9.6 billion euros in 2003, while Greek tourists spent around 2.2 billion euros...