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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

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.

Tsampikos Moschatos

With the close of the century, tourism has become the world's biggest industry. No other sector of the economy can replace it because except for the fact that it drives all other sectors of the economy, tourism investments have immediate results. Tourism also creates jobs and...

Double-digit Increase in Tourism Arrivals

Both private and public sector tourism leaders predict that final tourism arrival figures for this year would show a double-digit increase over last year.

Peak Summer Arrivals Increase Substantially

The number of tourists that entered Greece during the month of August mark an impressive rise against the last few years. This year's peak travel period was so strong that a good number of hotels around the country were unable to absorb the demand.

Research Institute Says Greek Tourism Rebound Mild at Best

As government boasts that arrivals this year will surpass last year's numbers by more than 10%, a report from the country's Institute for Tourism Research says we'll be fortunate to see a 7% increase in arrivals.

New Cultural and Sports Center for Athens

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis and Deputy Sports Minister George Orfanos last month signed an agreement for the construction of a new swimming pool, sports and cultural center for the Athens Rouf area.

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.

Olympic Games Study Shows Athens 2004 a Champion

Every city to have hosted the modern Olympic Games inherited improvements in infrastruc-ture, Olympic installations, facelifts, tourism promotion and a better environment through greater green spaces, says a survey by the international consultancy company Jones LangLalle.

Greece’s National Tourism Council Meets in Thessaloniki

Greece's tourism industry will see stronger-than-projected growth this year, Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said during a meeting in Thessaloniki with the National Tourism Council.

Hotel Chamber Holds Annual Tourism Awards

This year's Hellenic Chamber of Hotels' tourism awards took on a completely new face. Not only were the awards held within an up-market atmosphere, but also instead of a barrage of awards for everything and everybody, the chamber decided on a smaller number for specific reasons.

Sports Tourism Moves to the Forefront

Sports tourism agreements appear plentiful of late with major companies like TUI Hellas taking more interest in the sector, and with the government ready to create a World Athletics Museum.

Still No Decision On Conference Center

Dimitris Mantios, president of the Hellenic Association of Professional Conference Organizers, told members during the association's general assembly last month, and reporters, that he was very disappointed in the time it's taking government quarters to decide on an Athens...

Athens Launches Summer Cultural Program

A special summer cultural program was announced last month by Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis and Athens Municipality Cultural Department chief, Nitsa Loule. The program will spread across several parts of the capital, will run until September 18, and will feature a plethora of...

National Bank Sees Tourism Arrival Increase

Tourists visiting Greece will increase by 7.5 percent in 2005, exceeding 13.5 million this year and 14 million in 2006, according to a National Bank of Greece (NBG) report released last month.

Athens Airport Posts 63% Profit Increase

Athens International Airport announced last month that full-year pretax profit in 2004 jumped 62.9 percent year-on-year to 47.1 million euros, boosted by the Summer Olympic Games and increased passenger traffic.

Government Predicts Substantial Rise in Tourism

Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos last month, during a press call, said that we would see at least a seven percent rise in tourism arrivals this year. He said that according to data received from Hellenic Tourism Organization offices abroad the increase would be...

Research Institute Foresees Tourism Arrival Increases

Tourism arrivals in Greece are set to rise by 5 to 7 percent this year, according to estimates by the Institute of Tourism Research and Forecasts. In its latest "Economy and Tourism" report, ITEP predicts that in 2005 foreign tourist arrivals will rise by 5 to 6 percent over last year.

Arrivals Up, Overnights Down

Arrivals in Athens may have increased in the first quarter of 2005, according to Athens International Airport data, but the Attica Hoteliers' Association released data last month that show hotel occupancy rates down by an average 4.4 percent against the same quarter of last year.

Hop in Sightseeing Creates New Packages

Hop in Zinon Tours, in the Greek marketplace since 1952, now offers new tours to its plethora of sightseeing packages. The latest edition is its "Cruising to Antiquity" package that includes a cruise from Piraeus to Epidaurus Port and a bus ride to the ancient theater of the same name.

Olympic Sites Open to Tourism Utilization

The Olympic Stadium complex will become a center for sport, tourism and recreation, while two museums will be built on the site of the International Broadcasting Center, according to a recent announcement from the ministry of culture.