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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

40 Million Euro Greek Tourism Ad Campaign Launched

With distinct hopes of breaking last year's record number of tourism arrivals (up 10 percent over the year before), Greece launched its 40-million-euro advertising campaign (run by the consortium Ashley & Holmes Athens/Karamella) at a gala dinner last month. The campaign,...

Continental Airlines Opens Athens Route

Continental Airlines, the world's fifth largest airline, last month announced it would launch daily nonstop flights between New York/Newark and Athens effective June 7, 2007 (eastbound), subject to government approval.

Arrival Increases Confirmed

It's official. Greece, for the second year in a row, managed a substantial rise in its tourism arrivals. According to data from 12 Greek airports, which represent 90% of all air arrivals and 75% of all arrivals, the country welcomed 6.33% more visitors during the first half of...

Athens Promoted as a City Break Destination

The Organization for Tourism and Financial Development for Athens (OTOAA) submitted a bid to organize the annual City Break Expo and the European Cities Tourism (ECT) conference in Athens in June 2007.

Attica Hotel Occupancy Up While Room Rates Down

Attica hotel occupancy has increased 5 percent during the first quarter of this year as compared with last year said Giorgos Tsakiris, president of the Attica Hoteliers' Association (EXA) at last month's general assembly meeting. However, Mr. Tsakiris continued, room rates remain...

Amphitrion and C&C Merge Congress Activities

Two of Greece's biggest tourism companies in the area of conferences and congresses recently agreed to merge their congress activities through the creation of a new company called Amphitrion-C&C PCO.

50 Chinese Tourism Professionals Visit Greece

In a move to increase Chinese tourism in Greece, 50 Chinese tourism professionals were invited to meet with Greek colleagues last month by the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies.

Greece Stars at Record-breaking ITB Tourism Fair

Greece, for the first time, bathed in the limelight as the partner country at the 40th global tourism expo ITB held last month in Berlin. Greece hosted the opening event and reception for over 5,000 guests with a rich artistic program that included singers Alkistis Protopsalti...

New Tourism Development Minister Appointed

In a surprise move last month, during a reshuffle of ministers the government replaced its tourism minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, with former deputy culture minister, Fani Palli-Petralia. The change of guard, however, went smoothly with the former tourism minister alongside Ms...

New Accessibility Plan Promises Tourism for All

Preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004 jumpstarted the long-needed improvements to make Greece, and Athens in particular, more accessible to people with special needs. Ongoing initiatives for improved access are being made through the Ministry of Environment's...

Greek Destinations Urged to Promote Conference and Meetings Tourism

Nature, sea, culture and city tourism are the four pillars on which the effort of the Tourism Development Ministry to enrich the Greek tourism product rests, said the ministry's special secretary, Haris Kokkosis, during the 2nd International Meetings Industry Conference (IMIC...

Tourism Professionals Cite – Tourism Satellite Account Imperative

The annual success of the tourism sector depends on systematic groundwork and sound preparation, according to the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises.

Athens to Wear a Barrage of Colors this Summer

Athens is about to bloom and blossom in colors and art that promises to please the eye. This summer, Athenians and visitors to the capital will see more than 75 artistic and colorful cows "graze" around the city's streets and parks.

ICAP Study Foresees 8% Revenue Increase for Hotels

Five-star and 4-star Greek hotels will close 2005 with an 8% increase in sales, when compared with the year before, according to a recent ICAP study. The reason cited for the increase quite simply is the recovery of tourism movement to Greece during the past year.

Major Rise in Visits to Greek Museums and Sites

Although some recent studies show that foreign visitors to Greece shy away from museums, tickets sold for entrance to museums have increased significantly. According to Archaeological Receipts and Expropriations Fund, the increase is due to museum renovations and the opening of...

Qatar Airways Expanding at Rapid Rate

Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, does in Greece what it is doing and will do in all major European cities; it's expanding at a rapid rate. In just months since it opened offices in Athens, the airline has staffed modern offices with more than 20...

WTM Participants Foresee Double-digit Tourism Increase for Greece

Greek tourism is expected to record a back-to-back rise in 2006 following this year's bumper season, which saw an estimated 10 percent increase after years of decline, according to tourism professionals who visited last month's World Travel Market held in London.

Acropolis Museum Structure Ready by Spring

The first phase of the long-awaited Acropolis Museum will be ready by the end of next year, according to the country's culture ministry. The ministry said that the 20,000-square-meter glass and concrete museum would display sculptures and other finds from the 2,500-year-old...

Philoxenia 2005: Gerasimos Fokas, President, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

Cooperation between the private sector and government proved a boon with the successful organization of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. This year's tourism picture shows that Greece has now entered a new era. The Greek tourism sector had the red carpet of opportunity laid before...

Yiannis Evangelou

Tourism movement to Greece was positive this year, especially after the first half, and initial indications for next year are very good. However, we must, on both a national and local level, ensure this tourism increase continues at a steady pace keeping in mind the strong...