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Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

Ferry Company Mergers Foreseen

Piraeus-based XRTC Business Consultants says it expects more mergers and cooperation agreements within the Greek coastal shipping arena.

Some Ferry Prices Freed and Government Incentives for New Ships

Government last month said it would provide ferry operators with incentives to renew their aging fleets, and that it would liberalize ticket prices for ships sailing out of the Port of Piraeus, all in an effort to improve the country's ferry services.

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.

Billions Available for Greek Port Development Projects

Government last month announced a 3-billion-euro makeover project for Greek ports. The Merchant Marine Ministry said Greece has secured a loan worth 3 billion euros from the European Investment Bank, but reminds that specialists say that the regeneration project actually demands...

Louis Hellenic Cruises to Raise the Greek Flag

At least three Louis group cruise ships will raise the Greek flag, CEO Costakis Loizou said aboard Thomson Destiny, the group's flagship, during a reception held while the vessel was docked in Piraeus last month.

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.

Domestic Travelers Complain of Unfair Treatment

The average Greek will take two weeks' holiday this summer, most during the month of August, at a total cost of about 1,300 euros, according to an annual tourism survey released last month.

Louis Hellenic Cruises Begins 2005 Cruise Program

Last month, Louis Hellenic Cruises held an inauguration reception in Piraeus aboard its cruise ship The Emerald. The new cruise company announced the beginning of its cruise program for this year. Company executives say bookings have topped every expectation and that if the trend...

Two of Greece’s Biggest Travel Agencies Initiate Merge

Two of Greece's major travel enterprises took the plunge last month and started off the new year with a merger announcement. Panagiotis Zerzivilis of Aktina Travel and Giorgios Economou of Marine Tours said they merged their consolidation departments and formed a new company...

The Louis Group to Set Up Greek Cruise Line

Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines announced last month that it would have a new company set up and running cruises out of Piraeus by March of next year. The first ships, Calypso and Ithaki, will execute three- four- and seven-day cruises out of Piraeus.

Athens Hosts Historic Paralympic Games

The biggest and what appears to be the best Paralympic Games in history began in style last month as fireworks and illuminations lit up the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.

Piraeus Port Improvements Phenomenal

Ioannis Tzoannos, general secretary for the ministry of merchant marine, told guests during an Athens Business Club 2004 seminar on nautical tourism that he would like to see a close cooperation with the new tourism ministry. In particular he said he would like the simplification...

Blue Star Sets Record Passenger Number

Blue Star Ferries announced that it broke the half a million mark in passengers carried on its Piraeus-Chania route. On March 24 the Greek ferry line's electronic Check-in system on board encountered the route's 500,001 passenger as she boarded with her ticket in hand.

Unique Greek Resort Complex Ideal for the Physically Challenged

At least one Greek tourism enterprise seems to have taken to heart the potential gains as described in last year's edition of the Hellenic Tourism Organization's manual entitled "Making Europe Accessible for Tourists with Disabilities."

Olympic Prices for Greek Tourism Sector

A lot has been said recently on the difficulties that face the Greek tourism market and whether or not tourism enterprises will manage to scrounge out a profit from business activities this year, the year of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. According to some recent surveys, most...

Full Liberation of Ferry Routes Doubtful

Presently, four of Greece's major ferry routes -- Dodekanissos, Cylades, Argosaronikos, Crete -- fulfill the requirements for complete liberation when discussions are finalized between Greece's merchant marine ministry and the European Commission.

Blue Star 2 Most Popular Ferry on Piraeus-Chania Route

The newest ferry vessel on the Piraeus-Chania route, the Blue Star 2, has managed to sail ahead of all its competitors. For the month of December, Blue Star 2 increased travel on the route by some 43% and increased cargo transport by about 31%, when compared with the same month...

Museums and Sites to be Accessible to People with Special Needs

A special inter-ministerial meeting on the Olympic Games last month reiterated promises to render Athens more compatible with the needs of physically disabled people ahead of next September's Paralympics.

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...

9th Panorama Tourism Fair Scheduled For April

Next year's domestic tourism fair, Panorama, the ninth, takes place once again at the OLP Exhibition Center in Piraeus. The fair opens on April 22 and continues through to April 25.