Greece no1 holiday destination.
Added : (Sun Jan 23 2005)
TEXT OF RELEASE STARTS HERE

:: Attn. Travel, Consumer and Technology Corrs.



In a recent survey conducted by the internet company

REAL HOLIDAY REPORTS.COM

We asked;

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE EUROPEAN DESTINATION?

With a fantastic response of nearly 2,000 votes.

The results were:

1. Greece 34%

2. Spain 29%

3. Turkey 24%

4. Portugal 8%

5. France 5%

It seems Greece has now become the #1 holiday destination for UK tourists.

Spain, everyone's favourite for the last decade, is now being pushed for 2nd place by Turkey.

A spokesman for the Greek tourist board said " We are delighted with the results, and shows that there really is something for everyone in Greece and our fabulous islands".

If this news and report is true, also a happy news for us as well :) I have no idea that Turkey was passing forward the countries such as France and Portugal. What is the position of Italy at this list?

If this news and report is true, also a happy news for us as well :) I have no idea that Turkey was passing forward the countries such as France and Portugal. What is the position of Italy at this list?

Kuvvaci,

The survey was conducted in the United Kingdom. 2,000 British people who travel regularly to Europe were asked what their favourite destination in Europe was. Italy wasn't in the top five.

I have heard this, though. The Brits dont go to Italy as much as Spain, Greece, France, and Turkey. Who knows why. But all I know is that is good news for our country's tourism, right? :)

I guess this list is true too :D Also in last few years Greece and Turkey made an agreetment in tourism. We sent tourists to eachother :D a package progam is incuding both countries.

Let me tell you a story I have experienced. I had personal guestes from Canada a few years ago. After they stayed in Istanbul they wanted to see the other sides of Turkey (it was winter BTW) I took them to a travel agency. Agencygave them this mixed program after they wentto the other cities they came back to Istanbul with a tour group and went to Greece by bus. But Greece is last destination. They are out of program after Athens. These packages don't includ another country :)

If Greece and Turkey can keep working together (and do much more) we can make the Aegean one of the top destinations in Europe.... history, islands, beautiful coastland, everything you need... Cruises already have stops in both places, they are very popular....

I am agree :) but the problem is winter season. There is no problem in the summer. Dora Bakoiani was critisizing something that when toruists come to Greece they go to the Islands directly. For us, Torusist go directly to Aegean and Mediteranean coasts mostly. The same problem as you understands. But in the winter the situation is so different. Paris or Prague can't give what we give in the summer time, but in winter they are the leader.

Post here news from the tourist "industry" for this year .


National Bank of Greece forecasts 2005 rebound in tourism

Tourism is likely to rebound with arrivals to the country anticipated to rise by 7.5%, topping 13.5 million in 2005 and 14 million in 2006, Athens-quoted National Bank of Greece said in a market report released on Monday.

Fuelling the rebound would be a new advertising campaign the government has launched, and the legacy from the Athens 2004 Olympics, which is estimated to bring 1.4 million extra tourists, offsetting lower competitiveness of the Greek tourism product in terms of prices.

Tourism's impact to growth of domestic economic activity will be about 0.9% in 2005, up from 0.5% in 2004, the report said.

At the same time, downward pressure is expected on hotel prices, which means that hoteliers' revenue will show a lower rate of increase than tourist arrivals.

"In order to keep an upward momentum in Greek tourism, an improvement in competitiveness is needed in terms of prices, with a deterioration in the current phase offsetting to some extent an upgrade in infrastructure and publicity," the report said.

Tourism contributes 16% of the country's gross domestic product and 18% of employment. Greece ranks 15th globally in terms of tourism arrivals, which totalled 13 million in 2004, 90% of which came from European countries, National said.

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain2_b.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain3_b.jpghttp://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain10_b.jpg

CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM ISTANBUL TO MYCONOS AND SANTORINI
Istanbul, 1 June 2005 (14:47 UTC+2)

The Turkish airline “Atlas Jet” launches charter flights from Istanbul to Myconos and Santorini on June 15.

The flights will take place twice a week (Thursday and Sunday) until September and will be used 70-seat Bombadier CRJ700 passenger planes.

According to the general director of “Atlas Jet”, the company will offer one-week vacation packages to the Aegean islands of Myconos or Santorini starting from 449 euros. The airplane ticket prices for the Thursday flights will be 150 euros while on Sundays the ticket price will be at 250 euros.

Post here news from the tourist "industry" for this year .



http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain2_b.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain3_b.jpghttp://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/campain10_b.jpg

The TV version of this ad campaign is currently also broadcast in Turkey on "thematic" stations such as NTV, CNN Türk and CNBC-e, which cater to white collar individuals, university students and the like. This is the first time I've seen Greece advertised in Turkey. The Turkish version of the slogan is "Efsaneni Yunanistan'da Yaşa." I guess the Greek tourism board must have realized Turkey's potential as a source of tourists.

KFDM i did not know that! Its good news! :)
You should also know that the same is happening here , you see turkey advertisment everywhere (mostly big newspapers,periodicals) but also TV!
Sunday newspapers have some times 1-2 full pages advertisment for Turkey!
From what i know last year was a record of greek people travelling to turkey , something like 400,000!

KFDM i did not know that! Its good news! :)
You should also know that the same is happening here , you see turkey advertisment everywhere (mostly big newspapers,periodicals) but also TV!
Sunday newspapers have some times 1-2 full pages advertisment for Turkey!
From what i know last year was a record of greek people travelling to turkey , something like 400,000!


That is great news for both countries :) Maybe we can understand eachother better as people from both countries see the other country and hopefully a friendship will develop.

90% come from europe....How bout we make a campaign focusing on Asians?
I know however that many if not most English tourists spend time of there summer in Greece's islands

There has been a recent campaign I heard for Asian countries... I believe Greece and Turkey have both been involved to lure them over. :D

Nice promotional efforts :okay: Asian countries could certainly respond positively. Many of them have strong cultures and a very long history and their populations can appreciate what Greece has to offer.

www.ana.gr
16/06/2005

Avramopoulos announces measures to improve Greek tourism product

The year 2005 will be a very interesting year, Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, during a news conference, Avramopoulos said that messages sent by National Tourism Organisation's offices abroad were optimistic and were showing an increase in tourist arrivals in Greece.

The Greek minister also announced a series of measures aimed to improve the country's tourist product. Avramopoulos announced that Haris Kokkosis would take over as special secretary at the Tourism ministry, responsible for planning, leaving his position as secretary general at National Tourism Organisation. He will be replace by Mr. Fotinopoulos, while Mr Vassilis Rizas will take over as secretary general at the ministry.

Avramopoulos stressed the need for Greek tourism agencies to unite under one umbrella, and announced the creation of a Tourism Chamber of Greece to help towards achieving this goal. He said that the Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP) would be upgraded covering also all statistics related with tourism.

The Greek minister said he would submit to parliament a draft legislation on spa tourism and religious tourism. He reiterated actions taken to combat profiteering during the summer months with widespread inspections currently made around the country. Avramopoulos said the ministry was awaiting the formal recommendation of an expert for the construction of a Formule One race track in Greece.

Museums Will Stay Open from 8am to 7:30pm Over Greek Tourism


By Athina Saloustrou

The Greek PM, who visited the Ministry of Tourism this morning in the context of his cycle of contacts with Ministries, voiced his satisfaction over the progress of Greek tourism. Kostas Karamanlis declared that Greece is being considered a tourist destination in the new global markets, while he noted the competitive and diverse nature of tourism, which respect towards culture and tradition. The PM also referred to the countrys promotion, stressing that this was the first time that an overseas advertising campaign was launched this early, while he also mentioned the national campaign, noting it was decided that as of 1 June, large museums and archaeological sights are to stay open from 8am to 7:30pm throughout the week.

Come to think of it, i have spoken to many asians that are desperatly wanting to go to greece or if they have been already, have loved it!. Last time i was in greece, i remember seeing alot of asian tourists

GREECE-TURKEY: 6TH GREEK-TURKISH TOURISM FORUM ON JUNE 29-30
www.ansamed.gr
(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JUNE 15 - The 6th Greek-Turkish Forum on Tourism will be held in the Greek island of Samos and the Turkish port of Kusandasi, from June 29 to 30, bringing together Tourism ministers from the two countries along with tourism and travel officials. According to the Greek Ana news agency, the Forum's agenda includes progress on cooperation in tourism, presenting preparatory work for a second joint tourism commission council, examining ways to further expand bilateral cooperation and signing of a joint declaration on tourism. During a meeting between travel representatives to take place in Kusandasi on June 30 a cooperation protocol is expected to be signed. (ANSAmed). MRR
15/06/2005 10:38

GREECE: QATAR AIRWAYS LAUNCHES FIRST ATHENS FLIGHT

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JUNE 16 - Qatar Airways' first flight to Athens touched down safely on yestarday, inaugurating a schedule of six flights a week from Doha, the Middle Eastern statés capital. Employed for the route will be an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in business and 132 in economy, the airline said in a statement. "We expect to see excellent traffic from the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Asia and Africa feeding into our flights to Athens via Doha. And similarly, we look forward to welcoming passengers out of Greece to connect onto our extensive network of flights from Doha", said Qatar Airways' chief executive officer, Akbar Al Baker.(ANSAmed). COR-KSY
16/06/2005 14:17

Rangliste: Die beliebtesten Urlaubsorte

Beliebtestes Reiseziel der Deutschen bleibt Deutschland. Die meisten Bundesbürger zieht es in den Ferien für ein paar Tage an die Ostsee, nach Bayern oder an die Nordsee.

Bei den Auslandsreisezielen verteidigt Spanien zwar den ersten Rang, doch verliert es weiter an Boden. Im Kommen sind dagegen die Türkei und Österreich, auch Skandinavien und Nordafrika werden immer beliebter.

Fernreisen können sich aufgrund der wirtschaftlichen Lage nur die wenigsten leisten. Hier bleibt die Karibik absolutes Traumziel, aber auch Dubai und Nordamerika sind angesagt.

Geplante Reiseziele 2005

1. Deutschland (24%)
2. Spanien (10%)
3. Italien (7%)
4. Türkei (6%)
5.Österreich (5%)
6. Skandinavien (4,5%)
7. Griechenland (3%)
8. Frankreich (3%)
9. USA/Kanada (2%)
10. Kroatien/Slowenien (2%)
11. Ägypten
12. Karibik

Reiseziele 2005: Spanien und Griechenland verlieren Marktanteile, Karibik boomt
Spanien wird seine Spitzenposition unter den ausländischen Reisezielen behaupten können, aber verstärkt gegen den Abwärtstrend ankämpfen müssen. Denn im Vergleich zum Vorjahr (12,6 Prozent) wollen 2005 noch weniger Deutsche (10,0 Prozent) nach Spanien reisen. Auch Griechenland verliert in diesem Jahr seinen Olympia-Bonus und muss sich auf einen spürbaren Gästerückgang (2004: 5,2 Prozent - 2005: 3,1 Prozent) einstellen. Nach Asien (Thailand u.a.) zieht es vorübergehend weniger Deutsche (2004: 1,2 Prozent - 2005: 0,9 Prozent). Kuba und Karibik könnten 2005 bevorzugte Ausweichziele werden. Die Karibik könnte wieder zum "Traum der Träume" bei den Deutschen werden.

Berlin, June 14 - Italy is the first choice where Germans would prefer to spend their holidays abroad, according to a new poll out on Monday. Carried out by the Emnid Institute for the Mediaedge Agency, the poll found that while most Germans preferred to stay in their own country, 30%, 11% wanted to go to Italy, 9% to Turkey, 8% to Spain and 7% to Austria

Πιστεύω ότι η έρευνα αυτή έχει πέσει τελείως έξω γιατί τα στοιχεία από το ελληνικό υπουργείο τουρισμού για αυτή τη χρονιά είναι ενθαρρυντικά ειδικά για τις αφίξεις από γερμανία...

GREECE: QATAR AIRWAYS LAUNCHES FIRST ATHENS FLIGHT

Great news Geroplatanos. Eixa diabasei prosfata kai diloseis peri prothesis na epanaleitourgisei i aeroporiki syndesi Athinas - Tokyo. To anoigma se aytes tis agores einai krisimo - o de Abramopoulos egainiazei aytes tis meres kai to neo grafeio tou EOT sto Pekino.

Ena mikro sxolio gia ta grafeia tou EOT ...Einai tragiko to na ypo-leitourgoun elleipsei xrimaton (?), empneysis (?), oramatos (?) kai en telei stratigikis. Toulaxiston mexri tora.

EINAI TRAGIKH H EIKONA TOU GRAFEIOU sto Londino. SOu prokalei thlipsi afou thymizei Eforia, kai to mono diafimistiko yliko einai 5 skonismena simaiakia Athens 2004 se ena bazo. Akribos dipla tou (off the Regent's street) einai ta grafeia tis Qatar, me tis othones plasmatos na paizoun DIARKOS diafimistika spots. H sygrisi einai olethria kai i thlipsi anapofeykti.

Kata ta alla.. merika kala nea apo ti Mosxa :

http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_18627_18/06/2005_147662

Great news Geroplatanos. Eixa diabasei prosfata kai diloseis peri prothesis na epanaleitourgisei i aeroporiki syndesi Athinas - Tokyo. To anoigma se aytes tis agores einai krisimo - o de Abramopoulos egainiazei aytes tis meres kai to neo grafeio tou EOT sto Pekino.

Ena mikro sxolio gia ta grafeia tou EOT ...Einai tragiko to na ypo-leitourgoun elleipsei xrimaton (?), empneysis (?), oramatos (?) kai en telei stratigikis. Toulaxiston mexri tora.

EINAI TRAGIKH H EIKONA TOU GRAFEIOU sto Londino. SOu prokalei thlipsi afou thymizei Eforia, kai to mono diafimistiko yliko einai 5 skonismena simaiakia Athens 2004 se ena bazo. Akribos dipla tou (off the Regent's street) einai ta grafeia tis Qatar, me tis othones plasmatos na paizoun DIARKOS diafimistika spots. H sygrisi einai olethria kai i thlipsi anapofeykti.

Kata ta alla.. merika kala nea apo ti Mosxa :

http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_18627_18/06/2005_147662

No comment....
Τι να πει κανείς φίλε Poliochni...
Ας ελπίσουμε...ότι μπορεί κάτι να αλλάξει ,έστω και με αργούς ρυθμούς...
Την ίδια στιγμή που όλες οι "ανταγωνίστριες" χώρες , κυριολεκτικά "πετάνε" στους αριθμούς και τα έσοδα από τον τουρισμό για το 2005....

Cavo Sidero

Britain’s Loyalward Group is changing its name to Minoan Group, reflecting its commitment to its project in northeastern Crete, after agreements recently about the tourism investment of 1.2 billion euros.
The “Cavo Sidero” year-round resort, will include 7,000 beds distributed in five tourism villages, three golf courses and facilities for water sports, shooting, tennis, conferences and arts and entertainment. Despite previous delays, the project is now on course to begin construction in early 2006, after intense government interest of late.

Χαιρετώ σας όλους παιδιά ,

ας ελπίσουμε ότι θα είναι μια καλή χρονιά φέτος για τον τουρισμό και ένα νέο ξεκίνημα που θα μας οδηγήσει ξανά σε κάποιες από τις θέσεις της κορυφής...


Και κάποια νέα από το Πεκίνο :

Greek Tourism Minister meets China Tourism Administration chief during official visit to Beijing
www.ana.gr 21/06/2005

Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Tuesday met the director of the China National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei, during an official visit to China.

In statements afterward, Avramopoulos said that important facts had emerged during the meeting and that a visit by a Chinese minister to Greece might be expected in this context.

The two men discussed future estimates of tourist traffic between Greece and China, with Greece anxious to increase the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting the country. According to Avramopoulos, the Chinese show a great interest in Greek culture but Greece had failed to make it onto the 'map' of favourite destinations for the Chinese in recent years.

Later on Tuesday, Avramopoulos inaugurated an exhibition of contemporary Greek art in Beijing entitled "The Art of Greece meets China", while on Wednesday he will be inaugurating the tourism trade fair BITE, at which Greece is the honoured country, as well as an office of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) in Beijing.

GREECE: TOURISM REVENUES TO INCREASE BY 11.5%, FIGURES

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JUNE 20 -
According to figures from the World Tourist Organization, Greek tourism revenues for fiscal year 2005 are expected to increase by 11.5% to 31.7 billion euro. In its report, the World Tourist Organization forecasts that Greek tourism will grow at an average rate of 4.1% until 2015, with revenues reaching 60.3 billion euro at that time. Furthermore, the organization forecasts that in 2015, 20.8% of local employment will be linked to tourism (from 18% currently), while investments of the sector will represent 10.7% of total Greek investments. (ANSAmed). MRR

Χμ...

http://www.loyalward.co.uk/images/001.jpg

http://www.loyalward.co.uk/

TURKEY: NUMBER OF GREEK TOURISTS ON THE RISE, MINISTER

(ANSAmed) - SAMOS, JUNE 29 -
Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Atilla Koc said that the number of Greek tourists who came to Turkey in the first five months of 2005 increased by 40% and reached 209,000 when compared to the same period last year. According to reports by Anadolu news agency, Koc stressed that the Turkish government was planning to totally lift the 50 dollars of fee which Turkish tourists had to pay for going abroad as this was also claimed to prevent the flow of more Turkish tourists into Greece. Taking the floor at a meeting held in Samos within scope of the Sixth Turkish-Greek Tourism Forum, Koc said that the Forum contributed to development of tourism relations between the two countries.(ANSAmed). RED-KSY

This number must be increas. Also from turkey too. Gero, I really appreciate your threads. Also Skaros' threads too...

Thank you Kuvvaci! :)
I think that this year the number will be much larger then the lasts year (500,000)!

Thank you Kuvvaci! :)
I think that this year the number will be much larger then the lasts year (500,000)!
Be one of those 500.000 ppl then ;)

@Κuvacci thanks for the invitation , probably i will be :)


ΤΟΥΡΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΝΕΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΡΟΔΟ
Από www.rodiaki.gr

Υπολογίζεται συγκεκριμένα, σύμφωνα με ανεπίσημες εκτιμήσεις ( επισήμως τα στοιχεία της Υπηρεσίας Πολιτικής Αεροπορίας δεν έχουν ανακοινωθεί ) ότι η κίνηση ήταν αυξημένη κατά 12% περίπου σε σχέση με τον Ιούνιο του 2004.
Εν αναμονή των επίσημων ανακοινώσεων, έγινε δεκτό ότι με πτήσεις τσάρτερ τον περασμένο μήνα έφθασαν στο αεροδρόμιο της Ρόδου 204.867 αλλοδαποί επισκεπτες έναντι 181.953 που είχαν καταγραφεί τον Ιούνιο του 2004. Η αύξηση αυτή, εφόσον επισημοποιηθούν τα στοιχεία είναι της τάξης του 12,5%. Αν μάλιστα αναλογιστεί κανείς ότι το δίμηνο Απριλίου - Μαΐου η πτώση στην κίνηση ήταν ιδιαίτερα μεγάλη τόσο στη Ρόδο όσο και στη Κω, το γεγονος ότι ο Ιούνιος πήγε καλά έχει ευνόητη σημασία.
Η καλή πορεία του Ιουνίου πάντως ήταν εμφανής από το πρώτο δεκαήμερο, πράγμα που είχε γίνει αισθητό στην αγορά. Στα ίδια επίπεδα αναμένεται ότι θα εξελιχθεί η κίνηση και τις επόμενες εβδομάδες, οπότε βέβαια και θα υπάρξει έντονος "συνωστισμός" από επισκέπτες.
Τον Ιούνιο πάντως αυξημένη ήταν η κίνηση και στο λιμάνι της Ρόδου, στο οποίο κατέπλευσαν 84 κρουαζιερόπλοια, μεταφέροντας 60.286 τουρίστες.

ΣΤΟ ΛΙΜΑΝΙ
Στα ύψη εκτινάχθηκε η τουριστική κίνηση στο λιμάνι της Ρόδου, το μήνα που πέρασε καθώς σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία, σημειώθηκε αύξηση της τάξης των 16.415 ατόμων. Ο Ιούνιος λοιπόν πήγε πολύ καλά, καθώς τα στοιχεία που συγκέντρωσε το γραφείο ελέγχου Διαβατηρίων του λιμανιού μας, έδειξαν ότι διακινήθηκαν συνολικά 84.673 άτομα έναντι 68.258 τον ίδιο μήνα του έτους 2004. Η μεγάλη διαφορά οφείλεται στον κατάπλου περισσότερων κρουαζιεροπλοίων. Συγκεκριμένα φέτος τον Ιούνιο, το λιμάνι μας δέχτηκε 14 κρουαζιερόπλοια περισσότερα από πέρυσι τα οποία μετέφεραν και περίπου 13.000 περισσότερους τουρίστες.
Αναλυτικά ο Ιούνιος διαμορφώθηκε ως εξής: Επιβατική κίνηση γραμμής Ρόδος - Μαρμαρίς - Ρόδος - Ημερήσιοι εκδρομείς 8.756 άτομα - Επιβάτες με προορισμό την Τουρκία 1.534 άτομα - Επιβάτες προερχόμενοι από Τουρκία 854 άτομα Σύνολο: 11.144 άτομα • Επιβατική κίνηση γραμμής Μαρμαρίς-Ρόδος-Μαρμαρίς - Ημερήσιοι εκδρομείς 8.658 άτομα - Επιβάτες με προορισμό την Ρόδο 1.636 άτομα - Επιβάτες με προορισμό την Τουρκία 1.025 άτομα Σύνολο: 11.319 άτομα • Κίνηση κρουαζιεροπλοίων - Προσεγγίσεις-Αναχωρήσεις 84 πλοίων - Επιβαίνοντες συνολικά τουρίστες 60.286 άτομα • Θαλαμηγοί - Προσεγγίσεις 164 θαλαμηγών με 949 επιβαίνοντα άτομα και -Αναχωρήσεις ( απόπλοι ) 135 θαλαμηγών με 975 επιβαίνοντα άτομα

Just look at this map which I created in 2 minutes(this means I added only some regions,many are missing) and try to imagine the potential of the aegean region! :runaway:

This region deserves more than 35 million tourists I think!

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2776/poten5yt.jpg

Messiah , i agree there is huge potential for future growth! :)
Nice map , and imagine that we could add much more places!

But we should still be very carefull , because the last think that should happen is to destroy some "special interest/culture/architecture/nature" places only with huge infrastructures...

By the way Turkey is doing very well the last 10 years in the tourism field , amazing statistics , bravo! Have in mind though that like in Greece happened , in some years it will probably be not so cheap as today , and so it needs from now consideration and planning for the future.

Anyway , lets hope that it will be not far to see these number in the aegean sea region!

Messiah , i agree there is huge potential for future growth! :)
Nice map , and imagine that we could add much more places!

But we should still be very carefull , because the last think that should happen is to destroy some "special interest/culture/architecture/nature" places only with huge infrastructures...

By the way Turkey is doing very well the last 10 years in the tourism field , amazing statistics , bravo! Have in mind though that like in Greece happened , in some years it will probably be not so cheap as today , and so it needs from now consideration and planning for the future.

Anyway , lets hope that it will be not far to see these number in the aegean sea region!

Turkish tourism is growing healthly.We aren' just concentrated on mass tourism and cheap tourists.The region around alanya is concentrated on mass tourism while Antalya and aegean are concentrated on luxury tourism.


Alanya(mass tourism)
http://www.hotelpagina.nl/img4/turkije.alanya.kleopatrainn01.jpg

http://www.kesit.com/alanya/images/kahya1.jpg



Antalya-Belek
http://www.hotelpagina.nl/img6/turkije.kemer.rixos01.jpg

http://www.reisebuero-schoenheide.de/image_index/kremlin.jpg

https://secure.bookinturkey.com/imgs/ht_220/hillside_su01.gif

http://www.moderngelin.com/content/balayi/images/su.jpg

Έκτη επιλογή διακοπών για τους Φιλανδούς τουρίστες η Ελλάδα
Τρίτη, 5 Ιουλίου 2005
από www.traveldailynews.gr

Την έκτη θέση στις προτιμήσεις των Φιλανδών τουριστών, όσον αφορά στους προορισμούς διακοπών, κατέλαβε η χώρα μας, ακολουθούμενη από την Γαλλία και τη Βρετανία, σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα έρευνας, που διεξήγαγε η Εθνική Στατιστική Υπηρεσία της Φιλανδίας.

Δημοφιλέστερος προορισμός για τους Φιλανδούς αναδείχτηκε η Εσθονία, στην οποία πραγματοποιήθηκαν 740.000 διανυκτερεύσεις, ενώ ακολούθησαν η Ισπανία με 355.000 διανυκτερεύσεις, η Σουηδία με 335.000, η Ρωσία με 188.000 και η Ελλάδα με 154.000.

Gov’t expects smart pickup of tourism in ’05
source : www.ekathimerini.com 06/07/2005

Greece’s tourism industry will see stronger-than-projected growth this year, Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a National Tourism Council session in Thessaloniki on Monday, he estimated that foreign arrivals this year will rise by 7-11 percent from last year, with particular strength coming from “traditional” west European countries of origin, the US and Russia. Avramopoulos said efforts to tap the huge Chinese market is projected to start bearing fruit by next mid-winter season.

“We are seeing an improvement in the qualitative indicators of the incoming flows, a direct result of the country’s promotional campaign and the tapping of its positive post-Olympic image,” he said. Citing data from a National Bank of Greece study and the World Tourism Council (WTC), Avramopoulos said it is the first time that a country which has staged an Olympic Games registered a pickup in tourism the immediately following year. Other host countries or cities have usually had to wait two or three years for their tourism sector to recover, he added.

“We are receiving only positive messages. We are through the difficult stage of stabilization and are now entering the recovery stage. We are on a good course and even higher growth is forecast for next year,” Avramopoulos said.

He said that according to projections, Europe should expect an “invasion” of about 100 million Chinese tourists in the next five years. Greece is planning direct flights to and from China and will soon open a second national tourism bureau, in Shanghai.

Avramopoulos said the Greek National Tourism Organization’s promotion campaign, based on the slogan “Live Your Myth in Greece,” has been a success and will continue with certain variations next year, on roughly the same amount of advertising outlay (30 million euros).

He said it is imperative that the government unblock tourism investment plans that have been languishing for up to 15 years, acting as a disincentive for more investment in the industry. “Big companies wishing to invest are knocking on Greece’s door right now. Our goal is to make Greece a top destination for the world’s travelers.”

Addressing the Attica Hoteliers Association (EXA) yesterday, Avramopoulos said there is a need for a metropolitan tourism organization, with the participation of local government and the private sector, along the lines of the Barcelona model. He noted that the Catalan city has seen its annual number of overnight stays rise from 4 million in the early 1990s to more than 10 million last year, mainly through a tripling of conference tourism.

According to a study by JBR Hellas, presented yesterday, the number of overnight stays in Athens hotels fell from 8.9 million in 1980 to 3.9 million in 1993 and, according to the most optimistic scenario, it is projected to rise again to 8 million in 2015.

Αυτό το άρθρο καλύτερα να παρουσιαστεί στα ελληνικά για να μη γίνει στόχος από κάποιους που ίσως θελήσουν να το καταστρέψουν.

http://www.tanea.gr/data/D2005/D0706/1el13a.gif

Aντιτουριστική η Aθήνα...

Ένας στους τέσσερις που ήρθαν για τους Aγώνες δεν θέλει να ξανάρθει

από την εφημερίδα " ΤΑ ΝΕΑ "

ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΝΤΕΛΕΖΟΣ

Χωρίς κέρδη έμεινε ο τουρισμός της Αθήνας από την περυσινή φιλοξενία της διοργάνωσης των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων.

Σύμφωνα με την έρευνα της εταιρείας JBR Hellas, που παρουσιάστηκε χθες στη γενική συνέλευση των μελών της Ένωσης Ξενοδόχων Αθήνας ( ΕΞΑ ) , το σύνολο των διανυκτερεύσεων των ξένων τουριστών στα ολοκαίνουργια ξενοδοχεία της Αττικής δεν ξεπερνά τα 4,1 εκατομμύρια τον χρόνο, όταν το 1980 οι διανυκτερεύσεις στην πρωτεύουσα ήταν 8,9 εκατ. και αντιστοιχούσαν στο 22,1% του συνόλου της χώρας!

Την ίδια στιγμή, οι ξένοι επισκέπτες της Αθήνας ενώ βρίσκουν θετικά τα έργα υποδομής που έγιναν για τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες, θεωρούν την Αθήνα «ακριβή πόλη» και εξακολουθούν να βαθμολογούν αρνητικά τις επιδόσεις της όσον αφορά την περιβαλλοντική ρύπανση, τη σήμανση, την πληροφόρηση και την ασφάλεια στην πόλη.

Ένας στους τέσσερις επισκέπτες δεν θέλει να ξανάρθει στην Αθήνα ούτε και πρόκειται να τη συστήσει σε κάποιο γνωστό του, είναι ένα από τα πλέον ανησυχητικά ευρήματα της έρευνας.

Οργανισμός Τουρισμού

H ΕΞΑ θεωρεί πλέον αναγκαία τη δημιουργία Οργανισμού Τουρισμού Αθήνας στα πρότυπα του « Turismo de Barcelona » , με σκοπό τη διαχείριση του πασίγνωστου πλέον ονόματος «Αθήνα» και με στόχο τη διατήρηση και ανάπτυξη του τουρισμού στην Αθήνα, τον Πειραιά και την υπόλοιπη Αττική.

Για την αναβάθμιση του τουριστικού προϊόντος της Αττικής, η ΕΞΑ ζητά από τα υπουργεία Τουρισμού, Μεταφορών, Πολιτισμού, Ναυτιλίας και Δημόσιας Τάξης, να προχωρήσουν, μεταξύ άλλων, στη θέσπιση πάγιας αυτόνομης διαφημιστικής πολιτικής για την Αττική, στη δημιουργία συνεδριακού κέντρου και στην κατηγοριοποίηση των ξενοδοχείων με βάση το σύστημα των αστεριών. Επίσης, ζητά να αντιμετωπιστούν μια σειρά προβλημάτων που παρουσιάζονται στις μετακινήσεις των τουριστών με ταξί, υπεραστικά λεωφορεία, τρένα, αεροπλάνα και πλοία, καθώς και των δυσλειτουργιών που παρουσιάζονται στους αρχαιολογικούς χώρους.

Βέβαια , είναι απλά μια έρευνα από τις πολλές που γίνονται , δε νομίζω ότι θα πρέπει να δίνουμε υπερβολική σημασία , σίγουρα όμως θα πρέπει να μας προβληματίσει...
Οι ολυμπιακοί αγώνες τέλειωσαν και η Αθήνα ξαναγύρισε στα γνωστά ( π.χ. σάββατο βράδυ στο μοναστηράκι , "τίγκα" στο σκουπιδαριό από πεταμένα χαρτία , κουτάκια μπύρας και σουβλακίλα , σε μια πλατεία γεμάτη βρώμα ( καμία σχέση με ολυμπιακούς για όσους πέρναγαν από εκεί ) κτλπ.

Χρειάζεται ακόμα πολύ δουλειά για να γυρίσουμε στις αφίξεις έστω του 1980!!


Ας ελπίσουμε να βελτιωθεί η κατάσταση...

GRECOTEL Olympia Riviera Thalasso *****
West Peloponnese

http://www.grecotel.gr/Grecotel_Content_Manager_Images/HotelTemplates/29/logo.gif


The Olympia Riviera Thalasso is the ultimate elegant spa resort, inspired by the famed thermal springs of Kyllini.

For over a century, affluent Greeks flocked to the springs to enjoy their therapeutic waters and the invigorating air perfumed by the tall eucalyptus trees and the freshness of the sea. Building on this tradition, Grecotel has created a luxury retreat that combines the ages-old wisdom of the Greeks, who valued the healing properties of the sea, and modern wellness regimens to relax the body and rejuvenate the spirit.

The feeling of purity and freshness is echoed through the main building, surrounded by bungalows and villas. Plate-glass sliding doors, stone-white tiles that recall the columns of the sanctuary at Ancient Olympia.

Designed like the temples at nearby Ancient Olympia, the 4.500 m2 Thalassotherapy Center “Elixir” is your sanctuary from the stress of modern living. Surrender to the absolute luxury of the resort’s signature Ancient Spirit bodyworks and open-air massage.


http://www.grecotel.gr/Grecotel_Content_Manager/d71fd413-ba23-4b9b-bdd0-a220318f8cb7.jpg

http://www.grecotel.gr/Grecotel_Content_Manager/eda93cb6-89b3-4bf0-a053-7020ef3c4b6b.jpg

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http://www.grecotel.gr/Grecotel_Content_Manager/87387efb-8be6-4d6c-ac2f-53e2f9596b42.jpg

Αμυδρά αυξημένες οι αφίξεις αλλοδαπών στο αεροδρόμιο `Ιπποκράτης` της Κω
Παρασκευή, 8 Ιουλίου 2005


Ανησυχία για το τουριστικό μέλλον της Κω έχει προκληθεί στους τουριστικούς φορείς και επαγγελματίες του νησιού, έπειτα από τη δημοσιοποίηση στοιχείων από την Υπηρεσία Πολιτικής Αεροπορίας για τις αφίξεις αλλοδαπών τουριστών στο αεροδρόμιο `Ιπποκράτης` της Κω, τα οποία δεν είναι και ιδιαίτερα αισιόδοξα.

Ειδικότερα, από τα στοιχεία που δημοσιοποίησε η Υ.Π.Α., σύμφωνα με δημοσίευμα της τοπικής εφημερίδας `Ροδιακή`, προκύπτει ότι τον περασμένο μήνα, Ιούνιο, αφίχθησαν στο αεροδρόμιο `Ιπποκράτης` 107.075 αλλοδαποί τουρίστες, ενώ τον αντίστοιχο μήνα πέρσι 106.642. Από την άλλη, οι αναχωρήσεις επιβατών εξωτερικού τον περασμένο Ιούνιο καταγράφηκαν στις 99.431 έναντι 109.973 τον Ιούνιο του 2004 (μείωση κατά 4,37%).

Στη συνέχεια, όσον αφορά στους επιβάτες εσωτερικού, ο αριθμός τους τον φετινό Ιούνιο ανήλθε στα 11.927 άτομα, ενώ πέρσι στα 11.102, πετυχαίνοντας δηλαδή οριακή αύξηση της τάξης του 1,76%.

ALDEMAR OLYMPIAN VILLAGE *****

Olympic riviera , West Peloponnese

http://www.aldemarhotels.com/Templates/245/IMG5.gif

http://www.aldemarhotels.com/files/templatethemephotoimages/OVlogo.jpg

...Travel with Aldemar and sample some of the most unique "flavours in the world" against the background of the Ionian Sea accompanied by the sounds of traditional Greek music. Savour the tastes of our gastronomic specialities in a luxurious atmosphere with top-quality service, surrounded by exceptional natural beauty. Come with us and explore traditional Greek summer tastes. Experience moments full of..."sea", on the beach, in a hospitable and fresh atmosphere....

http://www.aldemarhotels.com/files/PhotoGallery/ovlg13.jpg

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http://www.aldemarhotels.com/files/Olympian/Suite1-large.jpg

http://www.aldemarhotels.com/files/Olympian/Suite2-large.jpg

Aereal view
http://www.aldemarhotels.com/files/photo_gallery_new/OV-Aero-Large.jpg

Wow some great destinations for Peloponnessos. :cheers:

@ Xristo όντως αυτά τα ξενοδοχεία στην Ηλεία είναι καταπληκτικά...
:cheers:

And some kind of different visitors for the island of Rhodes...
More then 5,000 people from the american airdraft carrier will visit the city of Rhodes and the island the next days...

Sailors , seamen , tourists in Rhodes.....
US Navy aircraft carrier USS CVN-70 Carl Vinson , will be at the port of Rhodes for the next week...
http://www.cvn70.navy.mil/photos/March%202005/15%20March%2096DPI/050315-N-3241H-001A.jpg

Από www.rodiaki.gr

Είναι η πρώτη φορά που έρχεται στη Ρόδο, και μάλιστα, μεταφέρει 5.500 ναύτες. Το αεροπλανοφόρο των ΗΠΑ, θα παραμείνει στην περιοχή για τέσσερις μέρες και θα αναχωρήσει συγκεκριμένα το πρωί της Παρασκευής.


Για την "εξυπηρέτησή" του, διαμορφώθηκε ειδικός χώρος στο λιμάνι της Ακαντιάς και συγκεκριμένα στα "χώματα" Ακαντιάς, όπου και πάρθηκαν ειδικά μέτρα ασφαλείας. Συγκεκριμένα, το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του, απομονώθηκε με κοντέινερς, ώστε σ'εκείνο το σημείο να γίνενται η επιβίβαση και αποβίβαση των ναυτών, καθώς και η φορτοκεφόρτωση των εμπορευμάτων. Μάλιστα, υπηρεσίες προσφέρουν από χτες στους Αμερικάνους 3 ρυμουλκά, 7 φορτηγίδες και 1 υδροφόρα, τα περισσότερα από τα οποία ήρθαν στη Ρόδο από την Αθήνα, ειδικά για το σκοπό αυτό, καθώς και ροδίτικα ημερόπλοια που πραγματοποιούν εκδρομές σε διάφορες παραλίες του νησιού. Ο κατάπλους του αεροπλανοφόρου, ήταν γνωστός, εδώ και πολλές μέρες στην Ρόδο, αν και μετά το τρομοκρατικό χτύπημα στην Αγγλία, υπήρξε η πληροφορία, ότι ίσως να άλλαζαν τα σχέδιά του, λόγω πρόσθετων μέτρων ασφαλείας. Πάντως το γεγονός, είχε γίνει ευρέως γνωστό, και μάλιστα έγιναν και οι σχετικές προετοιμασίες όσον αφορά τη διασκέδαση και την ψυχαγωγία των ναυτών. Ανάλογο είναι και το ενδιαφέρον των ντόπιων καταστηματαρχών, καθώς προσδοκούν μεγάλα οικονομικά ωφέλη από την επίσκεψη των Αμερικανών. EΠIΣKEΨEIΣ Yπουργοί, δήμαρχοι και βουλευτές βρέθηκαν προχθές στο αεροπλανοφόρο «Kάρλα Mπίνσον» ανοικτά της Pόδου, όπου τους έγινε ξενάγηση για τις δυνατότητες του πλοίου. Mε πρόσκληση του Aμερικανού πρεσβευτή κ. Tσάρλ Pις, μετέβησαν στο αεροπλανοφόρο ο υπουργός Oικονομίας κ. Γιώργος Aλογοσκούφης, οι υφυπουργοί Eξωτερικών κ.κ. Παναγιώτης Σκανδαλάκης και Eυρυπίδης Στυλιανίδης, η δήμαρχος Aθηναίων κ. Nτόρα Mπακογιάννη, ο βουλευτής κ. Kυριάκος Mητσοτάκης, ο γενικός γραμματέας του υπουργείου Eθνικής Άμυνας κ. Γιώργος Zορμπάς κ.ά. Σύμφωνα με όσα έγιναν γνωστά είχε επίσης προσκληθεί ο υπουργός Eπικρατείας κ. Θεοδ. Pουσόπουλος, ο οποίος όμως λόγω ανηλειμμένων υποχρεώσεων δεν πήγε.
ΣTIΣ TOΠIKEΣ APXEΣ
Ανυπομονούν να γνωρίσουν «το όμορφο Μεσογειακό καλοκαίρι», κατά την παραμονή τους στη Ρόδο, είπαν προς το νομάρχη Δωδεκανήσου κ. Γιάννη Μαχαιρίδη αξιωματούχοι του Αμερικανικού ναυτικού που επιβαίνουν στο αεροπλανοφόρο "carl vinson" το οποίο κατέπλευσε, νωρίς χθες το πρωί, στη Ρόδο
. Συγκεκριμένα, εκπρόσωποι των ναυτών που επιβαίνουν στο πλοίο και που αριθμούν γύρω στους πέντε χιλιάδες καθώς και των αξιωματούχων του αμερικάνικου ναυτικού που υπολογίζονται γύρω στους πεντακόσιους, με επικεφαλής Ναύαρχο του Αμερικανικού Στόλου, πραγματοποίησαν, άμα τη αφίξει τους στη Ρόδο, εθιμοτυπικές επισκέψεις τόσο στο Νομάρχη όσο και στο δήμαρχο Ροδίων κ. Γιώργο Γιαννόπουλο. Αρχικά επισκέφθηκαν το Νομαρχιακό Μέγαρο όπου, σε "χαλαρό" κλίμα έγινε η συνάντηση με το Νομάρχη ο οποίος τους είπε ότι δική μας επιθυμία είναι να περάσουν πολύ όμορφα μέχρι την ερχόμενη Παρασκευή οπότε και αναχωρούν και αν δουν και καμία…ατέλεια ας μην σταθούν εκεί, ελπίζουμε την επόμενη φορά που θα μας έρθουν τα πράγματα να είναι καλύτερα! Ενθουσιασμένος, πάντως, δήλωσε για τους ναύτες τους ο ίδιος ο Ναύαρχος σύμφωνα με τον οποίο και παρόλο που ήταν για πολύ λίγη ώρα έξω, αυτά που έχουν δει από τη Ρόδο τους έχουν συνεπάρει. «Κυκλοφορούν όλοι με ένα μόνιμο χαμόγελο!», είπε χαρακτηριστικά ο ανώτερος αξιωματικός του Αμερικανικού Στόλου. Ο κ. Νομάρχης δεν παρέλειψε, με διακριτικότητα, να αναφερθεί και σε αντιδράσεις που διατυπώνονται από μερίδα πολιτών όποτε έχουμε στο νησί κατάπλου πλοίου του Αμερικανικού Στόλου. «Είμαστε μια δημοκρατική χώρα-είπε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Μαχαιρίδης-και υπάρχουν και κάποιοι συμπολίτες μας που εκφράζουν την αντίδρασή τους αλλά δεν δημιουργούν πρόβλημα». Ο ίδιος, δεν παρέλειψε, ακόμη να τους πληροφορήσει ότι στη Ρόδο θα βρουν κάποιες από τις πιο καθαρές παραλίες της Μεσογείου. Σημειώνεται ότι το "carl vinson" απέπλευσε από το Σιάτλ της Αμερικής ενώ στη Ρόδο έφθασε προερχόμενο από τον Αραβικό Κόλπο και εδώ είναι ο πρώτος σταθμός που πιάνουν μετά από τρεις εβδομάδες που ήταν εν πλω! Από εδώ, την Παρασκευή σαλπάρει με προορισμό το λιμάνι της Λισσαβόνας στην Πορτογαλία αλλά, όπως είπε ο Ναύαρχος, λίγο πριν χαιρετήσουν το Νομάρχη, «έχω την αίσθηση ότι η Ρόδος θα είναι ο αγαπημένος τους σταθμός». Στη συνέχεια, ο Νομάρχης αντάλλαξε συμβολικά δώρα με το Ναύαρχο και εκπρόσωπο του πληρώματος του αεροπλανοφόρου.

SANTORINI (2nd) and CYCLADES (7th) among the 10 top islands in the world according to US Travel and Leisure.

The AEGEAN continues to ROCK !


"In the top islands ranking, Bali was followed by Santorini, Maui, Kauai, Great Barrier Reef Islands (Australia), Vancouver Island, Cyclades (Greece - Santorini was rated separately), Sicily, Hawaii, and Mount Desert Island, Maine."

Oxi oti perimename to travel and leisure na mas to poun - toulaxiston oi kyklades paramenoun statheri axia (toulaxiston oson afora tin idiaiteri omorfia tous). Entharryntiko bebaia oti oi amerikanoi arxizoun na ta anakalyptoun -
dieykrinisi : den to paratheto gia na panhgyrisoume (opos alloi) - protimo na do anabathmisi tou ellinikou touristikou proiontos kai auxisi ston arithmo, tin poiotita, kai to satisfaction ton touriston. Ayto tha einai to pragmatiko barometro.

im surprised! i would have thought 1st. I went to bali in 2000. it was, in all honesty dirty and cheap. I have always thought of that area (bali) as the generic version of the mediteranean.

Athens Tourism Struggles to `Blossom' After 2004 Olympic Games

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aKmtF9aak8ms


We must lower our prices... it is just to expensive now. And we are loosing alot of tourism to Turkey, since they are much much cheaper.

And now a contradicting article... :bash:

---------------------


Greece starts to reap benefits of Olympics

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/13/content_3212352.htm

:okay:

Kala oi apopseis diistantai ...as perimenoume to telos tis sezon - bebaia tipota theamatiko den tha exei prokypsei alla mallon thetika tha mas ta parousiasoun (eidika meta to persyno touristiko fiasko).

To apoluto oneidos omos symbainei ayto to kairo me ton ethniko aerometaforea. Parisi, Alexandroupoli kai synexos prostithentai ki alles istories tromou ... Krima, opos egrafe ki ena artho tis Kathimerinis gia tin anakampsi tou reymatos apo Rossia (yparxei se ayto to thread an den kano lathos) logo ton ligoston ptiseon kai ton periorismenon pleon dynatotiton tis Olumpiakis, moiazei i Ellada me kardia me mplokarismenes artiries.

Ayto omos pou symbainei tora, en meso therous, einai apisteyto. Pleon einai pasifanes oti i thryliki etaireia pneei ta loisthia. Kleisimo kai en meso AYgoustou den einai apithano (mporei omos mia kybernisi na parei TETOIA apofasi ?) - oi epiptoseis tha einai dramatikes - eimai polu periergos na do ti tha ginei (me to El. Venizelos, tis syndesi tis nisiotikis Elladas etc). Pragmatika thliberi exelixi.

Μια φορά κι ένα καιρό, σε μία μακρυνή χώρα, την Μπανανία υπήρχε ένας εθνικός αερομεταφορέας, η "Banana Airways" ή ΒΑ επι το συντομότερον. Μιά μέρα ένα απαξιωμένος πολιτικός της Μπανανίας σκέφτηκε: "Μωρέ δεν βολεύω μερικά απ' τα δικά μου παιδιά στην ΒΑ; Και καλός θα γίνω και δεν θα μου κοστίσει τίποτα." Πράγματι λοιπόν το έκανε. Το είδαν όμως οι άλλοι απαξιωμένοι πολιτικοί της Μπανανίας και σιγά σιγά άρχισαν όλοι τους να βολεύουν τα "δικά τους παιδιά" στην ΒΑ. Βέβαια, οι μισοί απ' τους βολεψάκηδες ήταν άχρηστα κομματοσκούληκα, ένα είδος γλειώδους σκουληκιού που συναντάται μόνο στην πολιτική ζωή της Μπανανίας και ζεί παρασιτικά προσκολώμενο και κάνοντας αφαίμαξη, κάτι σαν την δικιά μας βδέλλα. Φυσικά, για να μπορεί να βολεύει άνετα τα δικά της παιδιά, η εκάστοτε κυβέρνηση της Μπανανίας έβαζε κι έναν δικό της διευθυντή στην ΒΑ, άσχετο μεν με τις αερομεταφορές αλλά πάντοτε απόφοιτο της Υπερτάτης Σχολής Λαμογιακών Επιστημών, σχολή από την οποία πέρναγαν οι περισσότεροι πολιτικοί της Μπανανίας. Ετσι λοιπόν ο διευθυντής έτρωγε τα χοντρά και βόλευε τα κομματοσκούληκα που τρώγαν τα ψιλά και την νύφη την πλήρωνε κάθε τρείς και λίγο ο λαός της Μπανανίας που καλούνταν να πληρώσει τις περοδικές "εξυγιάνσεις" της ΒΑ. Με τον καιρό όμως, απο την πολλή αφαίμαξη η ΒΑ έμεινε πετσί και κόκαλο και ήταν έτοιμη να καταρεύσει. Τα κομματοσκούληκα είχαν αγριέψει κι οι πολιτικοί δεν ήξεραν τι να κάνουν. Σκέφτηκαν λοιπόν: "Θα της κάνουμε ένα καλό μακιγιάζ, θα της δώσουμε και μία μικρή προίκα και θα βρούμε κανα κορόιδο να την παντρευτεί. Ετσι θα ξεφορτωθούμε και τα κομματοσκούληκα και θα φανούμε και ήρωες". Προσπάθησαν και ξαναπροσπάθησαν, βάλανε αγγελίες, πήγαν σε γραφεία συνοικεσίων, της φτιάξαν και site στο Internet, μέχρι και τον Καρίτο φώναξαν να της κάνει μακιγιάζ και τον Χασπίρη να την "στυλάρει", γαμπρός όμως δεν βρισκόταν. Ωσπου μια μέρα, εκεί που οι υπουργοί είχαν μαζευτεί σε μιά βιλλίτσα 1500 τμ στην Βεκάλη (κυριλέ προάστιο της Μπανανίας ) να τσιμπήσουν λίγο φασιανό και να συζητήσουν για τα προβλήματα του λαού με κάτι τραπεζίτες και βιομήχανους υπό τους ήχους των ασμάτων της Χαλομοίρας, πετάγεται ένας υπουρός και φωνάζει: "Εύρηκα! Ξέρω πως θα σώσουμε την ΒΑ. Θα βάλουμε διευθύντρια την Χαλομοίρα" "Μα καλά" του λένε οι άλλοι, "αυτή δεν ξέρει τίποτα από αερομεταφορές" "Και λοιπόν; Ούτε κι από τραγούδι ήξερε κι όμως τα κατάφερε μια χαρά. Ασε δε που μέχρι να καταλάβουν τα κομματοσκούληκα ότι δεν είναι πλάκα θα περάσουν κανά δυό χρόνια και μεχρι τότε εμείς... χεχεχε." Κι έτσι, ζήσαν αυτοί καλά κι ο λαός της Μπανανίας πλήρωσε και πάλι την ανύμφεφτη νυφούλα.

Όλο και περισσότεροι Έλληνες επισκέπτονται τη Κωνσταντινούπολη και τα παράλια της Μικράς Ασίας
Πέμπτη, 21 Ιουλίου 2005
www.traveldailynews.gr

Όλο και περισσότεροι Έλληνες επισκέπτονται κάθε χρόνο για λόγους αναψυχής περιοχές της Τουρκίας, όπως την Κωνσταντινούπολη ή τα παράλια της Μικράς Ασίας, ενώ για φέτος αξιωματούχοι του τουρκικού τουρισμού κάνουν λόγο για αφίξεις περίπου 1 εκατ. Ελλήνων στη γειτονική χώρα.

Όπως μάλιστα, σημειώνει σε δημοσίευμα της η εφημερίδα `Αγγελιοφόρος`, οι λόγοι επίσκεψης των Ελλήνων είναι πολλοί, αλλά κυρίως χωρίζονται σε τρεις κατηγορίες. Αρχικά, μπορεί να είναι συναισθηματικοί οι λόγοι που οδηγούν κάποιους συμπατριώτες μας να περάσουν τις διακοπές τους στη Τουρκία, καθώς αρκετοί είναι αυτοί που έχουν ρίζες από τη Σμύρνη, το Αϊβαλί, την Κωνσταντινούπολη, κ.λ.π.. Δεύτερον, οι λόγοι μπορεί να είναι καθαρά οικονομικοί, καθώς ένα ταξίδι στη Τουρκία κοστίζει πολύ λιγότερα από ένα ταξίδι στο εσωτερικό της χώρας μας, και τρίτον λόγω της κοντινής απόστασης, που από ορισμένα μέρη της χώρας μας είναι συντομότερο να πας στα παράλια της Μικράς Ασίας, παρά σε κάποιο άλλο προορισμό του εσωτερικού.

Να σημειωθεί ότι οργανωμένες οδικές εκδρομές για Κωνσταντινούπολη, Πριγκηπόννησα, Παράλια Μικράς Ασίας, Καππαδοκία και Εύξεινο Πόντο πραγματοποιούνται από τη Θεσσαλονίκη, αλλά και από άλλες χώρες της Μακεδονίας, της Θράκης, της Θεσσαλίας και της Ηπείρου, οι οποίες βρίσκουν μεγάλη ανταπόκριση από το ελληνικό κοινό. Ακόμα, από τη Μυτιλήνη αναχωρούν καθημερινά δύο καράβια που μεταφέρουν συνολικά 800 άτομα στο Αϊβαλί, ενώ από τη Χίο υπάρχει καθημερινή σύνδεση με 4 καραβάκια με το Τσεσμέ, από τη Ρόδο για Αλικαρνασσό και Μαρμαρίδα, και από τη Σάμο γίνονται 3 δρομολόγια προς το Κουσάντασι, με δυνατότητα επίσκεψης σε Σμύρνη και Έφεσο.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/n...date=02/08/2005


Suddenly, demand is testing the capacity of Greek tourism

Many hotels taking no more bookings, tickets to islands scarce

By Stathis Kousounis - Kathimerini

The number of tourist arrivals in Greece over the last 10 days has shown an impressive rise. This is expected to continue until the end of August, resulting in a large number of hotels being unable to absorb the demand, Yiannis Evangelou, the president of the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents (HATTA), told Kathimerini.

The interest shown in Greece is the strongest in the last few years, Evangelou said. The latest data shows Greece and Spain profiting most from last-minute bookings. As a result, many hotels at major holiday destinations, such as Crete and Rhodes, are now fully booked, with smaller hotel units now appearing to benefit more from the increase in demand, although at the beginning of the tourism season (April-May) booking rates had seemed subdued.

According to major travel agencies, the UK market is displaying a strong trend toward visiting Greece, while other countries, such as Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and France, are also recording significant increases. Also positive is the picture for Italian tourists, who mostly take their holidays in August. Italian market sources estimate that the rise in tourists could even exceed 10 percent year-on-year, although it may be too early to tell before the month’s end, as Italians prefer to travel individually rather than in groups.

Industry operators point out that Greece is enjoying the strong advantage of being considered one of the safest destinations at a time when terrorism is on everyone’s mind. Domestic tourism is also on the rise, with the existing coastal shipping services not being able to cope with the demand for some island destinations. For the first time in years, bookings at hotels on Aegean islands are often being canceled for lack of sufficient ferry services this summer.

Greeks prefer to holiday at home more than other nationalities, even if the prices abroad are more attractive. It will soon be seen whether recent terrorist activities and international uncertainty will further reduce the number of Greeks visiting other countries for recreational purposes.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=418&art_id=qw1123660801733T614


Israeli tourists heading for Greece
August 10 2005 at 10:42AM

By Michele Kambas

Nicosia - Greek and Cypriot tourism officials see gains for their own trades if an Israeli security warning against its citizens travelling to southern Turkey deters many holidaymakers.

Israel urged citizens on Monday to avoid Turkey's southern coast between Alanya in the east and Kemer in the west, citing "concrete and grave terror threats" against them.

Since last Friday, Israel has diverted cruises carrying more than 6 000 passengers from destinations in Turkey because of what a top Israeli counter terrorism official said was "very worrying" information of possible al-Qaeda attacks.

Two cruise ships diverted to Cyprus on Monday headed home on Tuesday, abandoning planned stops in Turkish ports.

Muslim but secular Turkey, which has been experiencing a bumper tourism year, is a favourite destination for Israeli tourists, despite car-bomb attacks on two Istanbul synagogues in November 2003 that were blamed on al-Qaeda.

It was not clear how much Israel's warning would deter tourists, but Turkish officials played down its significance.

"People come here because it's safe. Antalya is the safest city in the world," Antalya governor Alaaddin Yuksel was quoted as saying by the Aksam daily on Tuesday. Antalya lies between Kemer and Alanya on Turkey's southern coast.

On Tuesday, Yossi Fatael, head of the Israeli Travel Agents Association, 15 percent of 4 000 Israelis sold airline tickets to Turkey for the next two days had cancelled their flights.

"Yes this does do some damage (to tourism) because we are speaking about a peak time for travel," Fatael said.

Official figures for July show the number of tourists visiting Turkey rose 22 percent year-on-year to 3,16 million.

The increase occurred despite a bomb blast in the popular Aegean port of Kusadasi on July 17 that destroyed a minibus, killing five people. There was no breakdown to indicate if numbers dwindled at all in the last two weeks of the month.

Turkey is a frequent target of diverse extremist groups, ranging from radical Islamists to Kurdish separatists and far-left activists.

Tourism officials in Greece and Cyprus, which share the same seas as Turkey, forecast gains for their own tourism if there is a significant switch by holidaymakers.

In Athens, a Greek tourism ministry official said his country, also experiencing a general rise in tourism mainly because of last year's Athens Olympics, was picking up more visitors because of the situation in Turkey.

"We have seen considerable cancellations of package bookings from Turkey which were absorbed by northern Greece and some of the islands," the Greek official said. "The current security situation in Turkey has affected Greek tourism."

In Cyprus, there has been a rise in enquiries about tourism capacity and expectations have risen that tourists may try to switch from Turkish destinations.

"After the Israeli travel advisory against travel to Turkey, there is certainly a potential for extra business, but being August, it is difficult to absorb because our hotels are already fully booked," said a source in the Cyprus Tourism Organisation who requested anonymity.

"Any impact from tourists changing travel plans is likely to appear with additional arrivals in September and October," the Cypriot source said.

But Fatael said Israelis had lived with terrorism so long they had become fatalistic about their travel plans.

"Terror has become a kind of world illness," he said pointing out that it reached from Jerusalem to London.

"So if it is in London, what's the big deal about Turkey? It's something you feel you cannot avoid no matter where you are."

Αύξηση κατά 25% των Ιταλών τουριστών

www.PatrasToday.gr
01:01 13/8/2005

ΠΑΤΡΑ:
Αύξηση κατά 25%, τουλάχιστον, παρατηρήθηκε φέτος στον αριθμό των Ιταλών τουριστών που ταξίδευσαν στην Ελλάδα, όπως μετέδωσε την Παρασκευή το ιταλικό κανάλι TG5. Σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία του καναλιού, η κίνηση αυτή έχει διοχετευτεί στα λιμάνια της Πάτρας και της Κέρκυρας, αλλά και στο αεροδρόμιο της Ρόδου.

Το κανάλι μετέδωσε εικόνες από το λιμάνι του Μπάρι, στο οποίο δημιουργήθηκε το αδιαχώρητο από Ιταλούς (και όχι μόνο ) τουρίστες που ετοιμάζονταν για το ταξίδι τους στην Ελλάδα. Ο τηλεοπτικός φακός παρουσίαζε ανθρώπους που με κάθε μέσο έφταναν στο χώρο του λιμανιού... με ταξί, λεωφορεία, ακόμα και με οτοστόπ.

Οπως ανέφερε ο ρεπόρτερ του καναλιού, καθημερινά αναχωρούν με τελικό προορισμό τα ελληνικά νησιά περισσότεροι από 1800 Ιταλοί, ενώ εξήγησε ότι η Ελλάδα είναι ίσως ο πιο ασφαλής προορισμός στον κόσμο, μετά τους επιτυχημένους "αντιτρομοκρατικά" Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες που έγιναν στην Αθήνα, σε αντίθεση με άλλες χώρες που μαστίζονται από την τρομοκρατία. Οπως τόνισε μάλιστα οι ελληνικές ομορφιές και οι αρχαιολογικοί χώροι μονοπώλησαν το φετινό καλοκαίρι τις προτιμήσεις των γειτόνων, αφού θεωρήθηκαν από τους Ιταλούς οι πλέον ονειρικές διακοπές.

And a short translation :

25% increase in the arrivals of Italian tourists .

According to the italian channel TG5 huge queues were created at the ports of Bari and Ancona. Thousands of italians travel to Greece , most of them use the ports of Patras and Igoumenitsa or the airport of Rhodos.
Daily more then 1800 italians travel only for the greek islands .
Also there was a short reportage about the the preferences of italian tourists (who prefer the beautiful landscapes, nice beaches and the archaeological sites ) .
There was also a reference to the high security offered since after the olympic games there is a large infrastructure and the country is considered as one of the most secure for hollidays.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100012_13/08/2005_59616

Tourist numbers leap up
Expected double-digit rise confirms medium-term Olympics benefit

http://www.ekathimerini.com/kathnews/photos/13-08-05/13-08-05_59616_1.gif
More tourists than ever are trekking up the Acropolis this year.

After years of declining tourism revenues, Greece is bouncing back after the success of last year’s Olympics and more spending on advertising campaigns. The Games have also left a good legacy of better infrastructure, especially in Athens. The Acropolis is now accessible to the disabled via a small lift. However, Greece still suffers from many cases of substandard services in the tourism sector, which could leave visitors unhappy.

Tourist arrivals are expected to grow by double digits to over 14 million in 2005, much higher than previous forecasts indicated.

This rise reverses the falling trend which had prevailed between 2000 and 2003. There had been a slight increase in visitors in 2004 but the figures were disappointing to sector professionals, who had expected a boom thanks to the Athens Olympics.

The successful organization of the Games appears to be the main reason behind the rise in tourist arrivals, confirming predictions of medium- and long-term benefits. Tourism accounts for 20 percent of Greece's GDP.

The recent attacks at tourist resorts in Turkey and terrorist threats against Italy and Spain appear also to have diverted a small number of tourist to Greece. Tourism industry representatives had estimated early this year that the number of arrivals would rise by 5-6 percent. A recent study by the National Bank of Greece had forecast a 7.5 percent increase, attributing it to a better marketing campaign by the state, along with the Games' impact.

The marketing campaign for the 2005 season was increased more than threefold, to 31 million euros, over that for 2004, when only 9 million was spent despite that being the year of the Olympics. More importantly, this year's campaign peaked at a time where most foreign tourists book their vacations, during the winter, and not later in the year, as used to be the case. For the 2006 season, Greece will spend 37 million euros in advertising. The campaign is expected to start as early as November and will be conducted in 42 countries, up from 28 last year.

Greece's confirmation as a safe destination, cemented during the Olympics, has brought US tourists back in droves; in 2004 their numbers had already increased to 430,000 from 293,000 in 2003, a rise of 49 percent; a further 30 percent rise is expected this year. There has also been a significant increase in arrivals from Australia (25 percent), Italy (25 percent), Spain (25 percent), the Netherlands (15 percent) and Russia (15 percent). Still, the mainstays of the tourism industry are the British and Germans, who account for about half of all arrivals.

Not everything has been rosy, however. Outdated airports and ports, overpriced hotels and rooms offering services of inferior quality, and widespread price-gouging are turning a number of visitors off. A recent survey conducted among visitors to Athens found that 25 percent would not visit the city again, many because of the high prices and below-par service. And, despite the government's boasts about its focus on tourism, organization in state services still lags. As one example, the program for the May-July events of the Athens Festival came out just last week.

Thimaste pou legame gia mia ependisi sto Kavo Sidero tis Kritis...

http://ta-nea.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=A&f=18318&m=N20&aa=2

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_27/08/2005_60094

Tourism in for bumper 2005 season

Visitors to reach 14 mln mark

Last year’s successful Olympic Games along with a promotional campaign of the country abroad have led to a bumper tourism season this summer, with extra arrivals expected to carry on in the next few months, according to industry officials.

Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said yesterday that the government expects tourist arrivals this year to hit double-digit growth rates in comparison to the 2004 season.

This confirms estimates given by international tourism authorities that predicted a growth rate for Greece of more than 11.5 percent this year, the minister said in a television interview.

The positive numbers help provide some solace to a country which spent an estimated 13 billion euros to host what is being labeled as the world’s most expensive Olympic Games.

Athens, however, has come up as one of the winners in tourism this year, a destination which visitors had previously ignored on their way to the country’s islands.

Industry sources estimate that 14 million tourists will visit the country’s shores in 2005.

Avramopoulos added that based on current bookings, September and October look good, but warned that companies in the sector should maintain high-quality services in a highly competitive field.

Greece competes in the international tourism market with many cheaper destinations, which many say offer deals with much better value for money.

The government has launched a 50-million-euro promotional campaign in a bid to lift the country’s appeal and help turn it into a year-round destination.

The amount is considered small when compared to the advertising budgets of other countries such as Turkey and Spain, but is larger than what Greece spent in the past.

The ruling conservatives have increased Greece’s focus on tourism, a sector which economists say contributes almost 40 percent every year to the country’s gross domestic product.

Along with the extended advertising campaign, the government created a separate tourism ministry soon after its election in March last year.

Μια φορά κι ένα καιρό, σε μία μακρυνή χώρα, την Μπανανία υπήρχε ένας εθνικός αερομεταφορέας, η "Banana Airways" ή ΒΑ επι το συντομότερον. Μιά μέρα ένα απαξιωμένος πολιτικός της Μπανανίας σκέφτηκε: "Μωρέ δεν βολεύω μερικά απ' τα δικά μου παιδιά στην ΒΑ; Και καλός θα γίνω και δεν θα μου κοστίσει τίποτα." Πράγματι λοιπόν το έκανε. Το είδαν όμως οι άλλοι απαξιωμένοι πολιτικοί της Μπανανίας και σιγά σιγά άρχισαν όλοι τους να βολεύουν τα "δικά τους παιδιά" στην ΒΑ. Βέβαια, οι μισοί απ' τους βολεψάκηδες ήταν άχρηστα κομματοσκούληκα, ένα είδος γλειώδους σκουληκιού που συναντάται μόνο στην πολιτική ζωή της Μπανανίας και ζεί παρασιτικά προσκολώμενο και κάνοντας αφαίμαξη, κάτι σαν την δικιά μας βδέλλα. Φυσικά, για να μπορεί να βολεύει άνετα τα δικά της παιδιά, η εκάστοτε κυβέρνηση της Μπανανίας έβαζε κι έναν δικό της διευθυντή στην ΒΑ, άσχετο μεν με τις αερομεταφορές αλλά πάντοτε απόφοιτο της Υπερτάτης Σχολής Λαμογιακών Επιστημών, σχολή από την οποία πέρναγαν οι περισσότεροι πολιτικοί της Μπανανίας. Ετσι λοιπόν ο διευθυντής έτρωγε τα χοντρά και βόλευε τα κομματοσκούληκα που τρώγαν τα ψιλά και την νύφη την πλήρωνε κάθε τρείς και λίγο ο λαός της Μπανανίας που καλούνταν να πληρώσει τις περοδικές "εξυγιάνσεις" της ΒΑ. Με τον καιρό όμως, απο την πολλή αφαίμαξη η ΒΑ έμεινε πετσί και κόκαλο και ήταν έτοιμη να καταρεύσει. Τα κομματοσκούληκα είχαν αγριέψει κι οι πολιτικοί δεν ήξεραν τι να κάνουν. Σκέφτηκαν λοιπόν: "Θα της κάνουμε ένα καλό μακιγιάζ, θα της δώσουμε και μία μικρή προίκα και θα βρούμε κανα κορόιδο να την παντρευτεί. Ετσι θα ξεφορτωθούμε και τα κομματοσκούληκα και θα φανούμε και ήρωες". Προσπάθησαν και ξαναπροσπάθησαν, βάλανε αγγελίες, πήγαν σε γραφεία συνοικεσίων, της φτιάξαν και site στο Internet, μέχρι και τον Καρίτο φώναξαν να της κάνει μακιγιάζ και τον Χασπίρη να την "στυλάρει", γαμπρός όμως δεν βρισκόταν. Ωσπου μια μέρα, εκεί που οι υπουργοί είχαν μαζευτεί σε μιά βιλλίτσα 1500 τμ στην Βεκάλη (κυριλέ προάστιο της Μπανανίας ) να τσιμπήσουν λίγο φασιανό και να συζητήσουν για τα προβλήματα του λαού με κάτι τραπεζίτες και βιομήχανους υπό τους ήχους των ασμάτων της Χαλομοίρας, πετάγεται ένας υπουρός και φωνάζει: "Εύρηκα! Ξέρω πως θα σώσουμε την ΒΑ. Θα βάλουμε διευθύντρια την Χαλομοίρα" "Μα καλά" του λένε οι άλλοι, "αυτή δεν ξέρει τίποτα από αερομεταφορές" "Και λοιπόν; Ούτε κι από τραγούδι ήξερε κι όμως τα κατάφερε μια χαρά. Ασε δε που μέχρι να καταλάβουν τα κομματοσκούληκα ότι δεν είναι πλάκα θα περάσουν κανά δυό χρόνια και μεχρι τότε εμείς... χεχεχε." Κι έτσι, ζήσαν αυτοί καλά κι ο λαός της Μπανανίας πλήρωσε και πάλι την ανύμφεφτη νυφούλα.


:hahaha:

Pos mou eixe xefigei auto to post toso kairo kai den to eixa diavasei...?

http://sportsbybrooks.com/MP1647.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/image.php?u=22029&dateline=1125134452 :okay:

:eek2: who is she man....?

GREECE WINS 1ST PRIZE AMONG EUROPEAN NATIONAL TRAVEL BOARDS
www.ansamed.it

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, SEPTEMBER 15 - The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) has won first prize in this year's World Travel Awards (WTA) in the category of Europés national tourism boards, Ana news agency reports.

"Greek tourism is acquiring prestige and international recognition, in confirmation of the government's policy. We are continuing our upward trend with steady, methodical planning and strategy," Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said in response to the victory.

London-based WTA, which arranges the awards with organisations including BBC World, holds an electronic ballot among tour operators, travel agents and hotel trade groups around the world. This year, more than 175,000 executives took part in the voting. The awards ceremony will be held in London on November 13 on the eve of the the UK capital's World Travel Market trade fair. (ANSAmed). MRR-KTX

Tourism operators see a bright opportunity for the next 20 years

From www.ekathimerini.com (16/09/2005)

Stavros Andreadis, SETE president, says the recovery of Greek tourism is largely due to the government’s energetic approach.

By Stathis Kousounis - Kathimerini


Every governmental, state or other body involved with the tourism sector must reset its priorities, says the president of the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), Stavros Andreadis, in an interview with Kathimerini, so as to ensure the growth of the industry continues.

The head of the tourism industry praises the effort made by the Tourism Development Ministry, which contributed to the impressive rise of foreign tourist arrivals this year, and stresses that Greek tourism now has the opportunity to achieve all it could not do in the last couple of decades.

As the end of the tourism season approaches, how do you rate the government’s work in tourism?

For the first time after many years we have the government interest confirmed at the highest possible level, with the prime minister regularly monitoring the sector’s issues himself. The establishment of the Tourism Development Ministry has helped the sector and this year’s figures vindicate this choice.

The general conclusion from 2005 so far is positive. The rise in figures, even if the percentage is still in single digits, is encouraging for the future. This increase is down to a series of factors, headed by the successful staging of the Olympic Games and the organized advertising promotion of the country.

It was gloriously proven, and this also vindicates many years of efforts by SETE, that advertising is a long-term investment, therefore it should take place with consistency and continuity. Crucially, the state has realized the significance of promotion, so I expect from now on it will not only increase funds according to revenues, but also improve constantly the promotion program through targeted marketing techniques. In this context the decisions for hiring a marketing consultant and the development of a branding system for Greek tourism are positive.

Is this effort enough for the rise of tourism, or are other measures needed, too, to secure the future of the sector’s growth?

Let us be realistic. The rise this year does not come from the improvement of our tourism services. We are offering this year what we did last year, with Athens being possibly the only exception. We have to pay attention to that as we cannot have a long-term and steady improvement of our tourism without a substantial shift in our product.

SETE has for years suggested that Greece has a very attractive primary tourism product. It is the state’s and the entrepreneurs’ responsibility to add value and highlight it as the main competitive weapon of our economy. Today’s positive course creates responsibilities for everyone, calling for higher targets. In this direction we still have a lot to do. By making the most of the current momentum, let us set priorities and proceed to drastic changes to create a better tourism product.

Responsibility shares must be distributed for everyone to do their bit for Greek tourism. This applies to all competent ministries and local authorities as well as everyone involved with tourism in the private sector.

Could you give some examples of problems which must be resolved to improve the tourism product?

We obviously need to supply more variety and quality. We have to sort out as soon as possible the town-planning issues still outstanding for any form of tourism installations and set a clear framework so that investors know clearly where they can invest and how. The study for the zoning plan of tourism activities and the forthcoming decision for the closure of old units will work positively toward this end. The state must at the same time approach the issue of investments with open horizons and modern views in favor of the public interest.

Let us consider what we prefer: Leave precious state plots without utilization, at the mercy of anyone, without offering any revenues or new jobs, or have them developed as tourism properties in cooperation with the private sector?

The state does not even need to sell off those plots. It can, as happens in many neighboring countries, proceed to long-term leasings, after the expiration of which the plots will return to the state. This measure would bring in large-scale and high-quality investments, which will generally upgrade tourism destinations while immediately creating new jobs in a country where de-investment in industry is unfortunately ever more rapid and the agricultural sector keeps shrinking.

In the same context the state must move on to harmonize activities under a strategic plan from the Tourism Development Ministry, to coordinate regions, prefectures and local authorities. The role of the latter is particularly important, yet, unfortunately and despite several people’s efforts, local authorities are still full of weaknesses and lacking the knowledge and means, which leads to anti-touristic mentalities and behaviors.

Are you satisfied with the level of tourism education offered in Greece today and the sensitivity of entrepreneurs in the sector to invest in human resources for the upgrade of services offered?

We all recognize that our economy has now turned to services, for the quality of which we need well-trained staff. This is more significant in tourism, which may be one of the economy’s pillars but is still deprived of university education, which will not by itself solve the human resources quality problem, but will clearly contribute in the long term to tourism’s quality upgrade.

The private sector must also embrace the significance of constant education and training and invest much more than today in human resources. The tourism education issue could also have another dimension, that of establishing our country as an education center for tourism for the broader Balkans and Mediterranean region, the Middle East and Asia.

What should be done to render the Greek tourism product more competitive in the global market?

True, Greek tourism’s growth problems are summarized in its reduced competitiveness. We do not just have to be better than last year. We also have to be better than our rival destinations this year.

We have made this issue a priority in the public dialogue about tourism with the occasion of the fourth SETE conference “Tourism and Development” taking place in Athens next month. In this conference we will present the results of a survey about the competitiveness of Mediterranean tourism destinations, conducted in Greece, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt and Croatia. The current debate on competitiveness should not be just theoretical but must apply directly and simply to everyone in the production process either as an employer or an employee: How competitive is what each one produces or offers compared with the payment? A hotel enterprise, for instance, will never be competitive if, apart from the entrepreneur, the maids, the waiters or the receptionist are not competitive in their services

This is a great idea and promotes the alpine and skiing industries of Greece!

Olympic flame to promote resorts

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 Posted: 1139 GMT (1939 HKT)

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- The Olympic flame for the 2006 Winter Games at Turin will be lit on November 27 in ancient Olympia and for the first time tour every Greek skiing centre in a bid to promote the country's winter sports.

Following a meeting with the Turin Games chief, Valentino Castellani, Greek Olympic Committee chief Minos Kyriakou said the flame would travel to many little known Greek skiing resorts before heading off to Rome on December 7.

The 2004 Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini will be the first torchbearer on Italian soil, while the first runner in Olympia has yet to be announced.

"For the first time we have decided to stage a relay to all winter sports centres, which will be a great promotion of our common aim, the Winter Games," Kyriakou told reporters.

Greece, a mainly mountainous country better known for its islands and beaches, has seen a sharp rise in winter sports enthusiasts over the past decade with significant investments in new centers, hotels and lifts across the country.

Olympia, site of the ancient Games, plays host to the torch lighting ceremony and is the start of the relay ahead of every summer and winter Games.

"People like me who organize such events, live with this dream, to return to Greece where the Games were founded," Castellini said.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/09/20/olympics.flame.reut/

At last my dream of having a Greece famous for its winter sports resources is approaching. :)

Cyprus tourism

Cyprus’s tourism arrivals were up 7.7 percent in the year until August, hitting almost 1.7 million arrivals, the statistics office said yesterday. Tourism and services underpin the Cypriot economy, with the tourism sector alone representing about 15 percent of gross domestic product. Year on year for August arrivals were up 10 percent on last year, authorities said. Britons are Cyprus’s main tourism market with almost 200,000 of them arriving last month. (Reuters)

Greece top tourist destination for Chinese
30/09/2005 (www.ana.gr)

Greece emerged as the favourite tourist destination among Chinese vacationers according to a survey conducted by Voyage, a China-based, large circulation travel magazine.
Eighty percent of those surveyed - which included travel writers and the magazine's readers - chose Greece as the leading destination of all countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
France placed second winning 60% of the vote, followed by Italy.

Greek Ambassador to China Mikis Kampanis, accompanied by Stelios Korkidis, Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) representative and press attache in Beijing, received the prize.

i would so love to go to greece. :yes:

does anyone know how many POrtuguese tourists visit Greece every year?? I'm just curoius...

+44% stis afixeis Roson stin Ellada

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/05/10/17/1108587.htm

Some latest tourism info:



INCREASE OF 13% IN THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING GREECE

Thessaloniki, 4 November 2005 (14:09 UTC+2)

The number of tourists who visited Greece in 2005 increased 13% compared to 2004 according to figures provided by the Bank of Greece while at the same time a 3.9% increase of tourist revenues is being recorded, stated Minister of Tourist Development Dimitris Avramopoulos in the inauguration of the 21st Philoxenia Exhibition in Thessaloniki yesterday.

We have exceeded all expectations even the most positive ones like the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) prediction for an 11.6% increase in the number of tourists visiting Greece, pointed out the Minister, adding that we do not exult over these results and efforts will continue.

Mr. Avramopoulos stressed that the next steps will be hard and deep institutional reforms are necessary as well as quality changes on the basis of a new strategy to be implemented over the next 10 years.

Referring to the moves made to further strengthen tourism in Greece he stressed that the ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization, GNTO, in cooperation with the newspapers Herald Tribune and New York Times will organize a number of fora for tourist investments in Greece held in major world capitals on the occasion of international tourist exhibitions. (London, November 15 - New Delhi, December 5 - Dubai, December 7 - New York, February 25, 2006 - Berlin, March 9, 2006 - Paris, March 16, 2006 - Moscow, March 23, 2006 - Beijing, April 21, 2006 - Cairo, September 5-7, 2006).

He added that special incentives are being given for the promotion of alternative tourism and pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism has prepared the 2006 tourist campaign and already Greek tourism is being promoted in major capitals all over the world through its new image.

Κατασκευή νÎ*ων ειδικών τεÏ?ματικών σταθμών σε στÏ?ατιωτικά αεÏ?οδÏ?όμια για πτήσεις τσάÏ?τεÏ?
ΑÏ?ξηση της τουÏ?ιστικής κίνησης κατά 30% - 35% μÎ*χÏ?ι το 2015

Η Î?ΑΥΤΕΜÎ*ΟΡΙΚΗ ON LINE
Î*αÏ?ασκευή, 4 Î?οεμβÏ?ίου 2005 15:45
Την εκτίμηση ότι μÎ*χÏ?ι το 2015 η τουÏ?ιστική κίνηση στην Ελλάδα θα είναι αυξημÎ*νη κατά 30% Î*ως 35% σε σχÎ*ση με φÎ*τος και ότι τα Î*σοδα από τη βιομηχανία του ΤουÏ?ισμοÏ? θα αντιστοιχοÏ?ν στο 25% του ΑΕÎ*, Î*ναντι 18% σήμεÏ?α, Î*κανε ο υπουÏ?γός ΤουÏ?ισμοÏ?, ΔημήτÏ?ης ΑβÏ?αμόπουλος

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/05/11/04/1116429.htm


ΕπιπÏ?όσθετα, ο υπουÏ?γός ανακοίνωσε ότι σÏ?ντομα εγκαινιάζει δÏ?ομολόγια και στη χώÏ?α μας η αεÏ?οποÏ?ική εταιÏ?εία χαμηλοÏ? κόστους Raynair, ακολουθώντας τα "χνάÏ?ια" άλλων εταιÏ?ιών, όπως η Qatar Airways.

Ante me to kalo kai na EPANALEITOURGHSEI h grammi gia Tokyo alla na xekinisei kai aeroporiki syndesi me Pekino pou kata kairous exei anaferei o Abravomopoulos.

Epitelous kinitikotita !

Μερικές από τις διαφημηστικές καταχωρήσεις σε έντυπα ξένων χωρών....

FRANCE/CANADA

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/ktx/typos/LOVE_FRANCHE.jpg


NETHERLANDS

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/ktx/typos/AIOLOS_HOLLAND.jpg

Advertising campaign of Geece abroad for 2005 in 27 countries

from www.gnto.gr

The countries are:

Australia--- Austria---Belgium--- France--- Germany--- Denmark--- Switzerland--- United Kingdom--- USA--- Japan--- Ireland--- Spain--- Israel--- Italy--- Canada--- China--- Cyprus--- Norway--- Holland--- Hungary--- Poland--- Portugal--- Russia--- Slovakia--- Sweden--- Czech Republic--- Finland.

Some pics....

NEW YORK - USA

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/New_York_02.jpg

LONDON - UK

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/Armoury_Way.jpg

http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/4987/londongreekadvertisment8qw.jpg

http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/5430/londongreekadvertismetn29he.jpg

SWITZERLAND
BASEL

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/Basel.jpg

GENEVA

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/Geneva.jpg

BERN

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/Bern.jpg

ZURICH

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/outdoor/Zurich.jpg

Σημαντική η ελληνική συμμετοχή στη φετινή World Travel Market
Δευτέρα, 14 Νοεμβρίου 2005

www.traveldailynews.gr


Ο Υπουργός Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης κ. Δημήτρης Αβραμόπουλος θα πραγματοποιεί από την Κυριακή 13 Νοεμβρίου 2005 τριήμερη επίσκεψη στο Λονδίνο, με την ευκαιρία της διεξαγωγής της World Travel Market, της μεγαλύτερης τουριστικής έκθεσης στον κόσμο.

Την Κυριακή το απόγευμα ο κ. Αβραμόπουλος παρέλαβε σε ειδική εκδήλωση, που διοργάνωσε -στο πλαίσιο της έκθεσης- ο Διεθνής Οργανισμός World Travel Awards, το 1ο Βραβείο « Εθνικού Οργανισμού Τουρισμού » της Ευρώπης, που φέτος απονέμεται στον Ελληνικό Οργανισμό Τουρισμού ( ΕΟΤ ) .

Ο Οργανισμός World Travel Awards, ο οποίος εδρεύει στο Λονδίνο, με βασικούς εταίρους το BBC World, την Παγκόσμια Τουριστική Έκθεση του Λονδίνου ( WTM ) , το Visit Britain κ.ά., απονέμει κάθε χρόνο τα Βραβεία για τους καλύτερους Οργανισμούς και Επιχειρήσεις στον τομέα παροχής τουριστικών υπηρεσιών.

Την Τρίτη ο κ. Αβραμόπουλος θα είναι κεντρικός ομιλητής στο Forum, που διοργανώνουν το Υπουργείο Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης και ο Ελληνικός Οργανισμός Τουρισμού, σε συνεργασία με τις εφημερίδες Herald Tribune και New York Times, με θέμα τις τουριστικές επενδύσεις στην Ελλάδα. Πρόκειται για το πρώτο από τα δέκα Fora, που θα διοργανωθούν σε πρωτεύουσες μεγάλων χωρών του κόσμου, συνδυάζοντας την πρωτοβουλία αυτή με τη διοργάνωση διεθνών τουριστικών εκθέσεων, όπου η χώρα μας έχει πρωταγωνιστικό και αναβαθμισμένο ρόλο. ( Λονδίνο 15 Νοεμβρίου, Νέο Δελχί 5 Δεκεμβρίου, Ντουμπάϊ 7 Δεκεμβρίου, Νέα Υόρκη 25 Φεβρουαρίου 2006, Βερολίνο 9 Μαρτίου 2006 , Παρίσι 16 Μαρτίου 2006, Μόσχα 23 Μαρτίου 2006, Πεκίνο 21 Απριλίου 2006, Κάιρο 5-7 Σεπτεμβρίου 2006 ) .

Στις συναντήσεις αυτές, όπως έχει ήδη ανακοινωθεί από την International Herald Tribune, θα παρουσιαστεί στους δυνητικούς επενδυτές από ξένους και Έλληνες ειδικούς, η νέα πολιτική για τις τουριστικές επενδύσεις.

Κατά την παραμονή του στο Λονδίνο ο Υπουργός Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης θα παραχωρήσει συνεντεύξεις σε διεθνή ειδησεογραφικά δίκτυα ( CNN, BBC WORLD, Travel CHANNEL ) , ενώ θα έχει σημαντικές επαφές με tour operators και επενδυτές του τομέα του τουρισμού.

Ο κ. Αβραμόπουλος θα συνοδεύεται στο ταξίδι του από τον Υφυπουργό Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης κ. Αναστάσιο Λιάσκο, τον Πρόεδρο του ΕΟΤ κ. Αριστείδη Καλογερόπουλο-Στράτη και υπηρεσιακούς παράγοντες.




http://www.worldtravelawards.com/var/plain/storage/images//416-133-eng-GB/home_large.jpg

World Travel Awards are pleased to announce the 2005 Winners


http://www.worldtravelawards.com/var/plain/storage/images/media/images/logo/43355-1-eng-GB/logo_large.jpg

World Travel Awards 2005 Gala Ceremony

Eagerly anticipated as the biggest and brightest annual event in the travel calendar, World Travel Awards 12th Annual Ceremony will be held in London on Sunday 13 November at the Royal Opera House .

Voting - Record number this year

World Travel Awards 2005 voting has opened on 1 June and so far the voting cast on our site is up 12% on the total votes cast for 2004 and it's set to increase as the voting continues.

So for European region here are some results concerning Greece :




(1)
Europe's Leading Tourist & Convention Bureau

GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organisation)




(2)
Europe's Leading Spa Resort

Aldemar Royal Mare Village & Thalasso, Greece

Και ένα σημερινό δημοσίευμα για το θέμα που ανέφερα παραπάνω :

GREECE: NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION VOTED 'BEST' IN EUROPE

www.ansamed.it

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, NOVEMBER 14 - Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Monday expressed his satisfaction for the award won by the National Tourism Organisation as the best tourism organisation in Europe, Greek news agency ANA reports. Speaking to reporters in London, to attend an International Travel Fair WTM, the Greek minister said the award was a justification of the ministry's policy in the past year while he predicted that the current year would be successful as well. The World Travel Awards, an organisation based in London with BBC World, World Trave Fair and Visit Britain as its main partners, each year awards the best organisations and enterprises in the tourism sector. Winners are elected after electronic voting by executives from the world travel market (tour operators), travel agents and hoteliers' assosiations. More 175,000 executives participated in this year's voting. (ANSAmed)

http://news.ert.gr/en/newsDetails.asp?id=13152

Americans Prefer Greece
29 Nov 2005 09:03:00

By Dimitris Alexopoulos


As per data given by Greek-American tour operators, an increase of travellers from the US is foreseen in the next two years. As per their statements to expatriate Mass Media, the recent announcement of Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos over the operation of Greek National Tourist Organization (EOT) offices in Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as the reinforcement of the office in New York, will help the promotion of Greek tourism in the US further.

There are already increased air ticket bookings to our country in 2006, while as the tour agents foresaw, the increase of tourism will continue in 2007. In the meantime, newspaper Daily News stated that due to terrorism in Turkey, tourism from the US to the country decreased by 50% during the last four years, even if in 2005 there was a 25% increase, in relation to last year. The article also noted that the dollar has a bigger purchasing power in Turkey, than in other European Union countries.

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=420&art_id=qw1134898202113T614

Greece gears Christian heritage for tourism

December 19 2005 at 12:33PM
By Catherine Boitard

Athens - Having for decades relied on its archaeological wealth to draw tourism, Greece now seeks to exploit an equally rich religious tradition to entice visitors from fellow Orthodox Christian countries.

Inspired by the success of pilgrimage sites such as Santiago de Compostella in Spain, the Greek tourism ministry intends to tap a bountiful heritage of churches, relics and miraculous icons dating back to the Byzantine Empire.

First in line are plans for an itinerary titled "In the Footsteps of Saint Paul", recreating the journey undertaken by the well-travelled apostle between 49 and 56 AD from northern Greece to Crete, via Athens and Corinth.

Greece is hoping to boost the number of Russian visitors
The late Pope John Paul II carried out a mini-version of the pilgrimage in 2001, visiting the site beneath the Acropolis where Paul preached to the Athenians in around 52 AD.

"One only has to look at the success of Tibetan monasteries" to realise the market potential, the tourism ministry's special adviser on the issue, Polycarpos Efstathiou, said.

The powerful Greek Orthodox Church favours the government's tourism initiative - in principle - as long as it can retain a central role in how the programme is run.

"We will bring ideas forward, and suggest which monuments will be utilised, and the Greek state will help guarantee their respectful use and provide maintenance," said Father Spyridon, the cleric supervising the issue on behalf of the Holy Synod, governing body of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Church and state will work together to prepare a new law on religious tourism, expected to be ready in March 2006.

Monasteries, icons with reputed miraculous powers and religious festivals across the country are under consideration for the initiative, which is mainly aimed at attracting fellow Orthodox believers from Russia and the prosperous Greek diaspora in the United States and Australia.

The Greek tourism ministry is hoping to boost the number of Russian visitors, who are today 150 000 per year.

But Spyridon is quick to stress that all faithful, Christian or not, are welcome.

Efstathiou, the tourism special adviser, said that a pilot programme bringing in Protestant and Catholic visitors is already under way with assistance from the Orthodox bishop of Germany.

Tourism professionals are praising the initiative, hoping to boost a specialised market which currently numbers some 50 000 visitors a year.

"It's not mass activity, but we can work all year long, and in areas with poorly developed tourism such as northern Greece," said Yiannis Evangelou, chairman of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies.

Evangelou notes, however, that the flower of Greece's religious tradition - the Mount Athos monastic community in northern Greece - is unlikely to open to mass operators.

Considered one of Orthodox Christianity's holiest sites, Mount Athos's about 20 monasteries are also barred to female visitors under a strict tradition dating back more than 1 000 years, and which generous European Union maintenance subsidies have failed to shake.

The community's strict code has made it a choice destination for high-ranking visitors seeking solitude, including Britain's Prince Charles and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who conducted a private pilgrimage to the site in September.

Merikes eidisoules pou alieysa apo Naftemporiki :

Ollandoi - Strofi se Ellada (mexri na xathei kamia galopoula)

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/06/01/13/1141078.htm

Agones ypertaxyploon (H tenta tou laoutzikou th'aposbestei ?)

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/06/01/13/1141051.htm

O Tatoulis oneireyetai ... Sydney ( POS ????!)

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/t+z/story.asp?id=1141028

Business plan tis neas OA

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/06/01/13/1141048.htm

I am glad to see Greek tourism is growing again. And congrats on a great campaign even though it didn`t reach Serbia. You don`t need to advertise in here. We already know how nice it is :okay: The only serious competitor in advertisment is Croatia whose posters have flood Europe ;)

I am glad to see Greek tourism is growing again. And congrats on a great campaign even though it didn`t reach Serbia. You don`t need to advertise in here. We already know how nice it is :okay: The only serious competitor in advertisment is Croatia whose posters have flood Europe ;)

Thank you Singidunum! Na sai kala! It is always nice to have good friends opinions in agora!
:cheers1:

PS: Regarding the adrvertisment campaign , it is the first time after many years that the tourism ministry is well organized and has a complete plan for the next years :)

I posted a Thread in the new Travel forum showcasing Greeces glorious and un rivalled summers. Please contribute guys:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=7260829#post7260829

Btw, just between you and me, I think Greece is set for a record breaking year in Toruism! :cheers:

I think also winter tourism is upscling each year since our natural winter spots are among the best and superb indeed. They need though a little more infrastructure investments. Hopefully in some years we'll be able to host the winter olympic games. :soon:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_4491797_10/02/2006_66250

Greece among the world’s top 15 travel destinations

DUBLIN - Greece consistently ranks among the top 15 destinations in the world, attracting some 14 million international travelers annually, Research and Markets said in their latest report, “Travel & Tourism International 2005 — Profile of Greece,” which they have added to their service.

The report says that while the Greek travel industry is increasingly facing stiff competition from other sun, sea and sand destinations in the region, especially Turkey, Athens has become a hot new destination (especially for city breaks), largely because of its greatly improved infrastructure, the upgrade of hotels and the expansion of the metro. The majority of Greeks holiday within their own country. In 2002, almost 4 million Greeks took a holiday at home and 400,000 or so went abroad.

Ôþñá ìå üëåò áõôÝò ôéò ãñßðåò ôùí ðïõëåñéêþí äåí ìáò âëÝðù êáëÜ.ÊÜôé ðñÝðåé íá êÜíåé ôï êñÜôïò áëëéþò ïé ôïõñßóôåò èá ôçí êÜíïõí ãéá Üëëåò ðïëéôåßåò.

the ads are real cool

Continuation of the 2005 tourism thread . The older thread about 2005 you can find here :

2005 Tourism news + Info
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=224397

www.ansamed.it 13/03/2006

TOURISM: GREECE WINS FIRST EUROPEAN PAVILION PRIZE AT ITB

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, MARCH 13 - The Greek pavilion won first prize among the European pavilions which took part in the international tourism exhibition ITB, which ended in Berlin on Sunday evening.
Greece was for the first time the theme country at the 40th ITB exhibition, which attracted a record participation of exhibitors from 183 countries. The awarding of the pavilions by companies and tourism has been insitutionalised since 2001, Greek news agency ANA-MPA reports.

http://assets.in.gr/dGenesis/assets/Content5/Photo/689756_b.jpg

http://assets.in.gr/dGenesis/assets/Content5/Photo/690798_b.jpg

www.in.gr

Με την κατάκτηση μιας επιπρόσθετης διάκρισης, το βραβείο δηλαδή του καλύτερου ευρωπαϊκού περιπτέρου, ολοκληρώθηκε η ελληνική παρουσία στη Διεθνή Εκθεση Τουρισμού, (ITB) που έκλεισε την Κυριακή τις πύλες της στο Βερολίνο, έχοντας καταρρίψει όλα τα προηγούμενα ρεκόρ συμμετοχής, με εκθέτες από 183 χώρες.

Η Ελλάδα ήταν ούτως ή άλλως «προνομιακός εταίρος» -τιμώμενη χώρα της φετινής διοργάνωσης-, γεγονός που την έφερε εκ των πραγμάτων στο επίκεντρο της προσοχής του κόσμου της τουριστικής οικονομίας.

Η βράβευση περιπτέρων ( κατά γεωγραφικές περιοχές ) , εταιρειών και τουριστικών φορέων με τα βραβεία «Best Exhibitor Awards ΙΤΒ» έχει θεσμοθετηθεί από το 2001 και τα βραβεία απονέμονται από ανεξάρτητη επιτροπή της Σχολής Τουριστικών Μάνατζερ της Κολονίας (Cologne Business School - CBS ) . To βραβείο του καλύτερου ευρωπαϊκού περιπτέρου για την Ελλάδα παρέλαβε σε ειδική τιμητική εκδήλωση ο Διευθυντής του ΕΟΤ Γερμανίας, Παναγιώτης Σκορδάς.

Great News!

Yes, it really is!
I see so many great things for the tourism industry in Greece going into the future. I would like the advertising campaigns here in the USA and in other countries to have lots of colorful stunning photographs- the beauty of Greece speaks for itself. The campaign here had some nice graphics with columns and blue color, but there needs to be something more telling and less cliche'.
Greece is doing a good job of capturing European tourist dollars and attention, like in the above pavilion, but many more can be drawn from other continents with the right campaigns. I volunteer to be the North American Greek tourism promoter!

Incredible article from the Telegraph in the UK about the merits of visiting Athens:

Athens comes of age
Britons are increasingly replacing their two-week holidays with briefer trips. Our writers explore some of the best places for a short break.
(Filed: 05/04/2006)


Spring has sprung and, with apologies to Tennyson, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of a short break.

And it's not just young men - we're all at it: last year, 50 per cent of adults took a short break in the UK (compared with 44 per cent in 2003), while 31 per cent took off abroad for a few days.

The rise of the short break can be attributed to many factors, from the growth of low-cost flights and short-break operators to our own increased desire to spend more of our disposable income on leisure activities.

It has become easier to find short-term accommodation - even villas, beach-resort hotels and ski chalets have started accepting guests for fewer than seven nights these days. And, thanks to the internet, it has become easier to research and book a short break.

Where are we taking our short breaks? It's difficult to say: for every operator who asserts that eastern European destinations, such as Tallinn, Bratislava, Warsaw, Krakow and Prague are firm favourites, there's another insisting that eastern European destination are "very last year" and that in 2006 we are going back to old favourites like Rome and Paris.

What all operators do agree on is that the short-breaks market (defined as one-to-three-night breaks) is gradually overtaking the holiday market (four nights plus).

And that May and November appear to be the most popular months for a weekend in Europe, proving that it isn't only in spring that our thoughts turn to short breaks.

Athens

It's odd how Athens remains so traditional. This is a city that has been thoroughly modernised but which still cherishes its links with the past. Another mystery is how slow it's been to catch on as a short-break destination. Despite all the improvements, many visitors still pass it by.

More fool them, we thought, as we swayed gently towards the sea on the tram from central Syntagma Square to Glyfada, a journey that takes you through the heart of Athens.

We headed down narrow streets and through tree-shaded plateias, passing old churches and local cafés, with apartment blocks so close to the carriages we occasionally found ourselves eye-to-eye with the residents.

Glyfada is a ritzy resort with a luxurious marina, but we headed instead for the fishing harbour. Here a few diners were occupying the plastic tables outside the Maridaki fish taverna.

There was a short and simple menu, mainly seafood straight off the boats moored outside. Lunch of squid and whitebait was £5 each, with the added bonus of the view back across the city.

Our base was the new Fresh Hotel in the city centre, a former office block that has been reborn as a design hotel. For years accommodation in Athens has meant either expensive luxury hotels or boring tourist traps.

This one was different. A pink lobby staffed by friendly staff led up to a small but stylish room with white walls, parquet floors and a flat-screen TV. The rooftop terrace lounge had a small pool, gorgeous views over the city and excellent cocktails.

The breakfast buffet included smoked salmon and freshly squeezed orange juice. The Fresh, like Athens, was clearly making an effort.

Much of the city seemed both familiar and strange. The improvements brought about by the Olympics are obvious. Whole areas have been pedestrianised, and where once you walked the streets in a fug of exhaust fumes, watchful for speeding motorists, now you stroll with your head up taking in the sights.

And these are, of course, magnificent. At the Acropolis we hopped from stone to stone like excited school children.

The impossible beauty of the Parthenon was complemented by the panorama across the city, from the grey hills of Attica to the milky blue band of the Aegean in the distance.

Just below was Areopagus Hill, where St Paul once preached, and below that the Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved Doric temple in Greece. Three world-class attractions in half a square mile. How many cities can compete with that?

At the tiny 11th-century church of St Catherine the interior gleamed with gold and silver icons. Nearby, pedestrianised Ermou Street, with its designer stores, led down to the 19th-century Flea Market at Monastiraki, where old men sell dodgy antiques, kitchen goods and other paraphernalia. Old and new again.

Then there are the most recent innovations. The tramway to the coast; the dazzling new metro. At Gazi, the former gasworks have been converted into a cultural centre, which sits surrounded by a clutch of alternative bars and restaurants.

If visitors have been slow to pick up on Athens' new charms, the locals haven't. The place was full of young and ebullient Athenians.

Around the Fresh Hotel the streets held a more gritty appeal. Nearby was Athens's central market, housed in an atmospheric 19th-century building. Noisy stallholders stood before piles of raw meat, yelling and cracking jokes.

Spicy sausages were stacked in pyramids; carcasses swung from hooks; fish and seafood gleamed and glistened on marble slabs.

As night fell we headed to Psiri. This area has become gentrified in recent years, but retains a time-worn air, with gloomy old mansions squatting next to crumbling apartment blocks, and tiny plateias hung with dim yellow lights.

Noisy, mostly young crowds wandered through the streets, ducking into hip bars; some chrome-and-mirror minimalist, others crimson and decadent like bordellos.

Hungry once again, we looked for a restaurant and discovered that the most popular place by far was the Taverna Tou Psiri, which did a handy line in comfort food: veal in rich gravy; peppery sausages; horta mountain greens soaked with olive oil.

Black and white prints lined the walls, and rembetika - 1920s music from the brothels of Piraeus - played in the background.

Even at the heart of new, improved, ultra-modern Athens, there's still room for the past.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2006/04/05/etshortbreaks02.xml&sSheet=/travel/2006/04/05/ixtrvhome.html


:okay: :okay:

Good heavens!!!

Good article. True, Glyphada is a jewel. What everybody here should do is that we should inform the foreign visitors about the coastal suburbs and the beauties of Athens. I mean, why wander in the centre of the city all the time during the summer when you can stay in Glyphada and swim and then use the 24-hour tram service to go to the fun quartiers in Plaka or Monastiraki or better, stay in Glyphada and go to one of the huge coastal entertainment venues?

We are not marketing our cities well enough, that's for sure...

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_6925855_05/04/2006_68282

Greece urged to use assets to woo investors

Holiday homes and the development of malls and organized housing complexes are the most attractive segments of the Greek real estate market to foreign investors, the head of Citigroup Property Investor’s European arm, Roger Orth, said at a special event in Athens yesterday.

Orth, who was in Athens exploring opportunities for his organization’s 200-million-euro European investment program, met with senior counterparts of a Greek property development group and discussed possibilities for investment partnerships in organized housing complexes and malls.

He also expressed interest in government properties that are for sale, noting that the transfer of real estate from non-professional owners to specialized real estate operators today is the dominant trend in Europe.

The transfer of property by public or private entities to specialized operators began in the United States in the 1980s, was especially popular in Britain in the 1990s and is now expanding to the rest of Europe. In this way, sellers free capital assets in order to focus on their basic activities, while capital gains emerge when specialized operators assume their management.

Orth said demographic conditions in Europe today are especially favorable to the growth of the holiday homes market segment, as the number of pensioners in Northern and Central Europe who are “thirsty for sun” is growing at a fast pace.

“Greece can secure a satisfactory share of the specific and especially competitive market by tapping its natural beauty and climate,” he said.

Orth added that housing prices will continue rising in most European countries, fueled by still-low interest rates, high liquidity and demographic developments.

“For the time being, eurozone interest rates remain at very low levels. It is also worth noting that in the US, the Federal Reserve raised its basic rate by almost 400 basis points in the last five years but without any substantial slowdown in the rate at which prices rose. I believe that problems may arise in the European housing market only in case rates approach the 5.5-6.0 percent level,” Orth said.

Citigroup Property Investors is one of Europe’s biggest investors in the property market, with about 2,300 apartments under management in Germany alone.

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2006/press/jpg/elegant_greece.jpg

I was recently working on a banner for Greek tourism and This is what I came up with from scratch using various programs. ofcourse it is just a Work in progress one and more shall be added later along with new ones!
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9862/mystic3up.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4027134.search?query=greece

Wonderful Greece Targets A Slice of the China Tourism Pie with Largest Single Country Participation at BITE 2006

Wonderful Greece, the slogan for the worldwide Greece awareness advertising campaign, is set to hog the headlines at BITE, the Beijing International Tourism Expo 2006 at the Beijing Exhibition Centre from 22 to 24 June 2006. Partnering BITE 2006 as the official ‘Partner Country’ for the second year straight, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) will see the grouping of various Greek tourism-marketing corporations in the largest single country participation with a total exhibition space take-up of more than 1,152 sqm.

Setting its sights on China’s expanding tourism market, strategic media vehicles such as outdoor advertising, press advertisements and television spots are utilised for Greece’s tourism promotion in the various Chinese cities such as Beijing, Kunming and Shanghai. The Southeastern Europe country with a population of 10,964,020 has embarked on a 2006 full-scale worldwide awareness advertising campaign stretching over 43 countries including Brazil, China, Germany, The United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, Holland, Saudi Arabia and Finland.

Mr Stelios Korkidis, Press & Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Greece in Beijing said, “BITE is a prominent exhibition in China’s tourism field and we would like to take this opportunity to promote both Greece and China. With Greece participating as ‘Partner Country’ in BITE 2006, visitors can expect to see cultural events and concerts to celebrate Greece with the local Chinese people."

The organisers have endorsed Greece’s participation with much anticipation as BITE once again renews its ties with Greece as Partner Country, reinforcing the show’s marque as the preferred leading tourism and travel exhibition on the international travel industry calendar.

The third annual international tourism trade and consumer fair is targeted to attract over 600 international and local participating companies and will boast a truly international representation, with new participating countries namely Ethiopia, Holland, Kenya, Slovenia, Mongolia, Spain, Tunisia, Switzerland and Tanzania.

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics coming up in two years and a dynamic market climate predicted to grow to 100 million departures in 2020, China’s tourism industry is expected to heat up significantly, during which BITE will definitely be the vital link between the Chinese and the vibrant global travel and tourism industry in the years to come.

^ I saw that; great news. China can provide countless tourists with its growing middle-class. The future of Greek tourism MUST include China.

Its good that Greece and China have made many connection over the past year.

http://www.e-go.gr/filesystem/images/20060419/low/imerisia_LARGE_t_942_113570_.jpg

Eπενδύσεις άνω των 3 δισεκατομμυρίων ευρώ για γκολφ resort

Πρόσφατο δημοσίευμα της αμερικανικής εφημερίδας Wall Street Journal για τα επενδυτικά σχέδια γύρω από το άθλημα του γκολφ στην Eλλάδα, αναζωπυρώνει τα σενάρια για πολύ μεγάλες ανατροπές, τα επόμενα χρόνια. Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα, η κυβέρνηση επιχειρεί να άρει τα γραφειοκρατικά εμπόδια, ώστε να ανοίξουν τα σύνορα της Eλλάδας στο άθλημα του γκολφ
ΗΜΕΡΗΣΙΑ 20/4/2006

(As posted by Tzinos at Stadia.gr)

.
Golf resorts have immense potential in Greece. A beautiful climate which allows the game to be played all year give Greece a distinct edge. When you also add the rest of the intangibles Greece offers (sea, nature, history, etc.) the future looks very positive. The only problem on the horizon is the legendary Greek bureaucracy which acts as a constant obstacle to change and innovation.

Major golf resort, residential and leisure-integrated real estate projects getting underway in Greece (http://www.invgolf.com/greece_golf_swings_play.htm)

*
H Eλλάδα θα είναι η σημαντικότερη τουριστική αγορά γκολφ της Mεσογείου τα προσεχή 10 χρόνια». H φράση αυτή δεν ανήκει σε κάποιον κυβερνητικό παράγοντα, ή σε κάποιον από τους οπαδούς του αθλήματος στην Eλλάδα, αλλά στον κ.Γιόχαν Mπάχμαν, διευθύνοντα σύμβουλο της Swiss Golf Invest AG, η οποία είναι μία από τις ξένες εταιρείες, που επενδύουν δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ στην Eλλάδα, ιδίως σε δημοφιλείς τουριστικούς προορισμούς (http://www.hgf.gr/cms/cms/front_content.php?lang=3&idart=74)

*

Θαλάσσιος τουρισμός και κρουαζιέρα στις προτεραιότητες της τουριστικής πολιτικής

Στην ανάπτυξη του θαλάσσιου τουρισμού και της κρουαζιέρας επικεντρώθηκε το Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Τουρισμού που συνεδρίασε στον Πόρο, υπό την προεδρία της υπουργού Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης Φάνης Πάλλη-Πετραλιά και τη συμμετοχή του υπουργού Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας Μανώλη Κεφαλογιάννη.

Στην ομιλία της η υπουργός αναφέρθηκε στο εξειδικευμένο διαφημιστικό πρόγραμμα που θα εμπλουτίσει την καμπάνια του υπουργείου στο εξωτερικό και ανακοίνωσε την υλοποίηση προγράμματος με την επωνυμία «Οι δρόμοι του θαλάσσιου τουρισμού».

Πρόκειται για έναν θαλάσσιο «χάρτη» που θα συνδέει περιοχές σημαντικής ιστορικής και πολιτικής σημασίας, προκειμένου αυτές να γίνουν προσβάσιμες για τα σκάφη αναψυχής.

Προτεραιότητα θα δοθεί στη σύνδεση των 16 μνημείων παγκόσμιας κληρονομιάς, όπως τα έχει χαρακτηρίσει η Ουνέσκο, όπως οι Μυκήνες, η παλαιά πόλη Ρόδου κ.α.

Παράλληλα η κ. Πετραλιά ανακοίνωσε ότι από το Γ' ΚΠΣ θα εκταμιευθούν κονδύλια για τη δημιουργία οκτώ τουριστικών αγκυροβολίων, που θα προστεθούν στα 51 ήδη υπάρχοντα, τα οποία εξυπηρετούν 15.000 σκάφη.

Στο σημείο αυτό ο υπουργός Εμπορικής Ναυτιλίας Μανώλης Κεφαλογιάννης υπογράμμισε ότι το υπουργείο του θα συμβάλει με τη σειρά του στην προώθηση των τουριστικών έργων, χαρακτηρίζοντας τουρισμό και ναυτιλία «πυλώνες» της ελληνικής οικονομίας.

Ο κ. Κεφαλογιάννης ανακοίνωσε ότι καταβάλλονται προσπάθειες προκειμένου να ενταχθεί στο επόμενο ΚΠΣ η αναβάθμιση και ο εκσυγχρονισμός κρουαζιερόπλοιων και άλλων επαγγελματικών σκαφών.

http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=703903&lngDtrID=251

ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟΣ: Πάνω από 16 εκατ. τουρίστες αναμένονται φέτος στην Ελλάδα (above 16 million tourists expected this year)

Περισσότερα από 16 εκατομμύρια τουρίστες υπολογίζεται ότι θα επισκεφτούν την Ελλάδα μέσα στο 2006 και είναι βέβαιο ότι ένα μεγάλο μέρος από αυτούς θα βρεθούν στην Ελλάδα μέσα στο επόμενο δίμηνο, ανέφερε η υπουργός Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης Φάνη Πάλλη Πετραλιά στη διάρκεια του σημερινού υπουργικού συμβουλίου.

Οπως επεσήμανε, οι συνθήκες που δημιουργεί η αύξηση της θερμοκρασίας και η αύξηση του αριθμού των ανθρώπων, οι οποίοι μετακινούνται συνέχεια από περιοχή σε περιοχή, αποτελούν μια μεγάλη πρόκληση για τον κρατικό μηχανισμό και για όλα τα συστήματα παροχής υπηρεσιών, δημόσια και ιδιωτικά, από το Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας και την Αστυνομία, έως τη ΔΕΗ και την Πυροσβεστική Υπηρεσία. Ωστόσο εξέφρασε την πίστη ότι θα διασφαλιστεί και φέτος η ομαλή και απρόσκοπτη θερινή λειτουργία του κρατικού μηχανισμού στο σύνολο της χώρας.

Στην εισήγηση της η υπουργός αναφέρθηκε στον κεντρικό ρόλο που παίζουν οι επενδύσεις στην υπόθεση της ενίσχυσης της προσφοράς του ελληνικού τουριστικούπροϊόντος, επισημαίνοντας ότι είναι ο καλύτερος αιμοδότης της τουριστικής ανάπτυξης της χώρας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό επανέλαβε την πρόθεση του υπουργείου, ώστε ο χρόνος ωρίμανσης των επενδύσεων να συγκλίνει με το μέσο ευρωπαϊκό χρόνο ωρίμανσης, που είναι περίπου 18 μήνες.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, υπο τη σκέπη του υπουργείου Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης, δημιουργείται η Διεύθυνση Υποδοχής Επενδυτικών Προτάσεων και Επιχειρηματικών Σχεδίων, με κύριο στόχο ο ενδιαφερόμενος επενδυτής να γνωρίζει σε εύλογο χρονικό διάστημα την τύχη των προτάσεων και των σχεδίων που υποβάλλει.

http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_kathremote_3763303_25/07/2006_159884


:cheers:

Great news. I rekon in the years ahead(not too distant future), the 20m mark will be cracked easily.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_3124593_26/07/2006_72526

Bumper year for tourism?

Greek hoteliers said yesterday that foreign tourist arrivals this year could jump by 10 percent or more, signaling an excellent year for the country’s tourism and a major boost for the economy.

Each year, Greece hosts more than 14 million foreign tourists, who flock to its whitewashed villages and Aegean islands. Tourism accounts for an estimated 18 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and roughly one in five jobs.

In the last two years, Greece has seen strong growth in tourist arrivals, its image lifted by the successful staging of the 2004 Olympic Games and from the perception that it is a destination relatively safe from international terrorism.

“The current tourist season appears to be developing very well,” said Gerasimos Fokas, president of the state-chartered Hoteliers’ Chamber. “We forecast that foreign tourist arrivals will rise by double-digit rates compared with last year. And the statistics we have seen to date support this forecast.”

Earlier this month, the private sector Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE) said tourist arrivals in the first six months of the year were up 6.33 percent. According to SETE, the increase has outpaced the overall growth in tourism worldwide, as well as in rival Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Turkey and Croatia.

Government statistics show that the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors - a proxy for tourist arrivals - grew by 5.16 percent last year.

More tourists, less spending

Despite an increase in the number of tourists arriving, Fokas warned that spending is not growing as quickly and may even be flat compared with the previous year.

“Foreign tourist spending is lagging, not growing at as fast a rate as would be expected from the data on tourist arrivals,” Fokas said.

He blamed a shift in the industry toward a new type of package tourism - so-called “all-inclusive” packages - in which visitors pay for their complete room and board in advance and, as a result, spend less on services outside their hotels.

“We have heard complaints from other tourism businesses that they are losing money because guests stay inside their hotels more and more,” said Fokas. “And that, in fact, is true.”

He said growth in all-inclusive packages had been rapid. Five years ago, only a handful of hotels offered such deals. But this year, half of Greece’s 600 largest hotels - those with more than 200 rooms - have booked such packages. (Reuters)

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L30138860%3C/a

Thriving Greek tourism boosted by Turkish woes
Wed 30 Aug 2006 10:04 AM ET
By Karolos Grohmann

ATHENS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Greek tourism, a main pillar of the country's economy, is heading for a bumper year, and bomb blasts in neighbouring Turkey could give the late summer season an extra boost, an industry official said on Wednesday.

"The feeling is that overall we will have a good season," Stavros Andreadis, president of the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), told Reuters in an interview.

"We expect an annual rise in arrivals of about eight or nine percent. We will see a similar rise in revenues."

Capping an outstanding performance since the 2004 Athens Olympics, SETE said the end of the summer season in September and October could be even better than expected, partly due to this week's bomb blasts in Turkey.

A Kurdish separatist group has claimed responsibility for the series of bomb attacks this week, which have affected arrivals and driven some tourists out of Turkey.

"There is no doubt that Greece has benefited from such events, now and in the past, as it has also benefited from staging secure Olympic Games," Andreadis said.

"But all this is circumstantial and one should not depend on such things. If there is no security scare in these countries for a couple of years then people will return there," he said.

Tourism accounts for an estimated 18 percent of Greece gross domestic product (GDP) and roughly one in five jobs. The economy is seen growing by 3.8 percent in 2006, among the highest rates in the euro zone.

Greece is expecting to host more than 14 million foreign tourists this year, up from 13.4 million in 2005.

Andreadis said the months of September and October could also turn out to be unexpectedly busy.

"The tail of the season, which is always very crucial, could be very good this year," he said.

But he warned that Greece would not be able to capitalise further on this growth unless it improved infrastructure.

"Why would someone come to invest in tourism in Crete when tourists at the overflowing airport at Heraklion need an average 90 minutes to depart or to land because of the sheer number of visitors," he said.

Greece has also been hit by long delays in ferry connections to the islands, expensive ferry tickets and mediocre services on board.

"Essentially we are offering the same product we offered four years ago, with the exception of Athens, which got a facelift for the Olympics," he said.

Andreadis urged the government to act while business was good.

"We are talking about a nine percent rise in a mature market like Greece and this is very important. We are not a new destination like Croatia for example where such growth figures would be normal," he said.

"The government has to understand that, and draw up a long-term plan, five years or 10 years, that would trigger investment in the sector and help build on this growth," he said. "Our tourism product must be improved."

So happy news for you excluding this:

Capping an outstanding performance since the 2004 Athens Olympics, SETE said the end of the summer season in September and October could be even better than expected, partly due to this week's bomb blasts in Turkey.

A Kurdish separatist group has claimed responsibility for the series of bomb attacks this week, which have affected arrivals and driven some tourists out of Turkey.

"There is no doubt that Greece has benefited from such events, now and in the past, as it has also benefited from staging secure Olympic Games," Andreadis said.

"But all this is circumstantial and one should not depend on such things. If there is no security scare in these countries for a couple of years then people will return there," he said.


Bravo komsu.. :applause:

If the article offended your delicate sensibilities take it up with Reuters.

I think it's a fair assesment to say Greek tourism might benefit from tourists being scared off of neighbouring countries if it happens.

However I guess Reuters cannot write this because it will outrage our seemingly very sensative Turkish forumers.

It's clear the PKK is targeting Turkey's tourism.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/06/front2453978.2979166666.html

I just write down my humble opinions on this article that seems like to be interesting for you. You have copied and pasted in your "Greek Architecture Forum". If you do not believe what is written on why you have shared it here?

Anyway I myself also don't have implicit faith in "Reuters". And I really do not want to believe greeks have talked in this way nor for themselves neither for us turks. Don't you think so komsu?

The word "benefit" doesn't suit the word "suffer" best huh? And some comments hurt more than others' since they come from unexpected...

Hey mate look, it's not like I or anyone else here wish to see bloody BS like what is going on there.

But don't make it seem like people analyzing potential market shifts as insults to you.

Do I believe that **IF** tourists flee Turkey that it will accrue some benefit to Greece? Sure because it may be true. But no one is dancing in the streets for this, it would be a market reality nothing more.

@ CityZen, cut it off.

If you want to discuss about the Hellenic tourism, fine. If you want to provoke or discuss politics go somewhere else.

Back to the topic.

CityZen, why are you trying to make this political? It's a fact of life that tourists who were going to travel to Turkey and are now afraid to do so, may choose Greece instead, as it offers a similar climate and countless attractions. That's it. It's not a wish, just a mere fact, so leave it at that.

Industry officials optimistic over tourism

Tourist arrivals are expected to rise by 8-10 percent this year, while revenues are projected to total 13.7 billion euros, up 10 percent from 2005, Stavros Andreadis, the president of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises, said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters during a news conference on the occasion of the 22nd Philoxenia tourism fair in Thessaloniki, Andreadis stressed that Greek tourism had not room for complacency.

"I fear this feeling of happy inactivity," he said, adding that Greece "sells as an idea and we must build on this by strengthening the country's tourism profile with "high added value products".

Andreas Andreadis, president of the national association of hoteliers, said that 40-50 percent of new investments in Greece covered hotel projects, while he noted that it was equally important to build new five-star hotels and to upgrade the existing 7,000 hotel units around the country.

Andreadis said the association was developing a cooperation with large Internet tour operators and noted that Expedia's turnover from Greek hotels was expected to reach 300 million euros in the next three years.

Tourist arrivals from Russia and Ukraine - arriving by airplane - to central Macedonia grew by 16 percent and 100 percent in the 10-month period from January to October this year, compared with the same period 2005, while the Association of Thessaloniki Hoteliers reported a rebound in room occupancy rates in the first half of 2006, after a steady decline in the previous three years. Average occupancy rate reached 54 percent in the city of Thessaloniki.

http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=4801170&maindocimg=1667578&service=100

Frankly, 10% isn't good enough.
Greece has the potential to get in excess of 20% rise a year...just do it.

10% is fantastic mate. Revenues of $13.7 billion dollars when alot of people were predicting lower revenues due to packaged all-inclusive deals.

I believe the target is 20 million annual visitors by the end of the decade.

and 20 million is a low number by 2010 IMO.
I prefer to think big and hope for at least 25 million. Look at our competitors. Look at Turkey. Croatia is catching up to us aswell.

We need a massive boost.

;10487770']and 20 million is a low number by 2010 IMO.
I prefer to think big and hope for at least 25 million. Look at our competitors. Look at Turkey. Croatia is catching up to us aswell.

We need a massive boost.

20 million is a low number? That's double the population of Greece, mate.

I said low number by 2010.
Greece can do better, it has potential to reach massive numbers.

The fact that Greece is no longer in the top 15 most visited nations in the world is worrying. Despite strong growth, it just isn't enough.

Don't take it personally...Its my opinion that Greece should have over 25 million tourists by 2010.

^^ I don't take it personally mate.

What you must remember when making comparisons to countries like Turkey and Croatia is that these two countries don't use the Euro as their currency. Hence, many of their services, hotels, transportation, etc., are cheap in cost when compared to the same services in Greece. I know for a fact that Americans like to spend their money, but they are bargain hunters as well. They would rather spend less money for the same type of vacation and that is why many are choosing places like Croatia. Let me give you an example. Now that the Canadian dollar has been much stronger when compared to the US$ dollar, tourism by Americans to Canada has dropped drastically. When our dollar falls, they rush to Canada to take advantage of good deals...

So, as you can see, competition for tourism is heavily impacted by currency. Greece, can be very expensive.

In my view it is not the total number of tourists which is important but the money that every tourist spends. Many other Mediterranean destinations have attracted more tourists with low prices. That is why they have seen such a massive jump in the number of visitors. The revenue that these tourists generate though is small in comparison.

Greece should try to attract more affluent tourists which spend a lot more cash. It can only achieve this by accommodating to the specific tastes of these affluent tourists. For example by building spa's, golf courts, marinas etc. Again it’s not about quantity but about quality.

Leaf file, 24 million is double of Greece population ;)

As far as the boost secret I said over and over for a lifetime, that boost is found in our great mountains and the potential of winter tourism (something they never mention in official campaigns, they talk about the usual summer holidays plus a boost made up of conference centers, spas, golf courses, cruises, festivals, history but they never mention our winter holidays potential but slightly in some TV programs mainly focused to the local public).

What are they waiting for to invest in Parnassos and/or Kalavryta, Falakro and Evrytania (Belouchi, Tymfristos areas).

THAT would be an opportunity to skyrocket the numbers to 25 m plus increasing the quality of visitors as you know winter sports are quite expensive and expense-demanding (Take for instance 5-star high above in Parnassos or even a resort as they do in France).

In my view it is not the total number of tourists which is important but the money that every tourist spends. Many other Mediterranean destinations have attracted more tourists with low prices. That is why they have seen such a massive jump in the number of visitors. The revenue that these tourists generate though is small in comparison.

Greece should try to attract more affluent tourists which spend a lot more cash. It can only achieve this by accommodating to the specific tastes of these affluent tourists. For example by building spa's, golf courts, marinas etc. Again it’s not about quantity but about quality. I second that.

Other areas Greek tourism should build on is Cultural Tourism, Special Interest Tourism i.e. gourmet trails (Greek cuisine is super-chic at the moment because of its recognised nutritional value + the new generation of chefs who are taking it to other levels), Religious tourism; in the footsteps of the Apostoles, the beginnings of the 'mother church', other religions and their architecture in Greece etc.

Cultural and SIT tourists are usually older, better educated and more affluent. They want holidays that offer a more intense and involved experience. To learn more about what local people do in terms of producing food, wine, produce and what effects social, economic and political structures have had on the host community over time. It is important for them to get a 'sense of place' from an environmental and social aspect. These forms of tourism are usually less intrusive on the environment and communities, and in many cases foster traditions and customs to rekindle and thrive. Take the 'slow food' movement which started in Torino Italy and now has many chapters around the world. Tourists in the 1990's were going to Crete to eat the famed cuisine and were being served schnitzel. Thankfully movements, such as Concred (Concred) are addressing that now.

BTW there's an international forum being held right now in Thessaloniki on cultural and heritage tourism.

Concred is a really good initiative. I especially like the links to all the restaurants. Some vineyards in Macedonia have started to organize themselves as well: http://www.wineroads.gr/en/winemakers.asp

;10487770']and 20 million is a low number by 2010 IMO.
I prefer to think big and hope for at least 25 million. Look at our competitors. Look at Turkey. Croatia is catching up to us aswell.

We need a massive boost.

Giorgo, be reasonable please.

We can say we'd like 50, or 100 million. Fact is Greece from some years back was targeting a 40% overall rise in visitors (to 20 million). This is do-able and a very large number.

Consider that the 2 other nations you mentioned are both a fair bit cheaper in price too.

The Cretan diet is very famous worldwide:

http://www.concred.gr/concred_genika_en.htm

As for the tourists, I believe the 20 million target can be achieved till 2015.

Trust me, I have considered the money. I know all about it infact.
The issue is that Greece hasn't properly marketed herself for a full 12 months of tourism, lets not deny.

Athens in winter is beautiful...I love it. Its the best time to be in Athens IMO. But who else knows that? Why doesn't the world know about winter in Athens? My point is that not enough is being done to keep Greece competitive. Greece gets about 14 million tourists in summer months alone..Imagine if they actually marketed the other seasons. It can EASILY and I mean EASILY pass the 25 million mark. Lets not kid ourselves. Slowly, Greece is becoming a backwater for Southern European tourism. But now some good news:



Greece seeks to become all-year tourist destination

Greece is seeking to become an all-year-round tourist destination by adding new itineraries and increasing investments in the sector, local media reported on Monday.

Greece has increased efforts to attract international tourists during low seasons, the Athens News Agency reported, citing Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, who made the remarks at the World Travel Market in London.

Greece is a favorite destination for international tourists, especially Europeans. But the winters witness few tourists from European countries.

The key to future success of the tourism sector also lay in more investments, Palli-Petralia said.

"Procedures for private investment need to be eased, and we have to solve all the bureaucratic problems more rapidly," she noted.

A major slice of the European Union (EU) funds for 2007-2013 would be utilized to promote travel, tourism, and leisure activities, she said.

A total of 460 domestic and foreign requests for investment in the tourism sector have been raised since April 2005, totalling 917 million euros (1,179 million U.S. dollars), the minister said.

Finally. They actually want to cover up the gap of the quiet periods. This is what I am talking about...

I totally agree with the all-year-round tourism.


A total of 460 domestic and foreign requests for investment in the tourism sector have been raised since April 2005, totalling 917 million euros (1,179 million U.S. dollars), the minister said.

Good news. :cheers:

Επενδύσεις 225 εκατ. ευρώ σε Ελλάδα και Βαλκάνια από όμιλο Μήτση

Eπενδυτικό πρόγραμμα ύψους 225 εκατ. ευρώ, με δημιουργία νέων ξενοδοχειακών μονάδων σε Ελλάδα και βαλκανικές πρωτεύουσες, καθώς και για τον εκσυγχρονισμό και επέκταση υφιστάμενων ξενοδοχείων, θα υλοποιήσει εντός της επόμενης διετίας ο ξενοδοχειακός όμιλος του κ. Κωνσταντίνου Μήτση.

Ειδικότερα τα επενδυτικά σχέδια του ομίλου περιλαμβάνουν:

Κατασκευή, από την εταιρία Θολάρι Α.Ε., ξενοδοχείου στην Καρδάμαινα της Κω, 500 δωματίων και 5 αστέρων. Ο προυπολογισμός ανέρχεται σε 55 εκατ. ευρώ και η λειτουργία του τοποθετείται στις αρχές του 2009.

Κατασκευή ξενοδοχείου 5 αστέρων στην Ανισαρά Ηρακλείου Κρήτης, με την ονομασία La Guna, δυναμικότητας 400 δωματίων, το οποίο υπολογίζεται ότι θα λειτουργήσει την άνοιξη του 2008. Η επένδυση είναι προϋπολογισμού 35 εκατ. ευρώ.

Τα Χριστούγεννα του 2007 θα ανοίξει τις πύλες του το εκ βάθρων αναμορφωμένο Ξενία Ιωαννίνων, που εκμίσθωσε ο όμιλος, επενδύοντας 35 εκατ. ευρώ. Το νέο Ξενία θα είναι 250 δωματίων.
Παράλληλα με τις νέες επενδύσεις, έχουν δρομολογηθεί επενδύσεις αναβάθμισης σε 4 ξενοδοχεία, ύψους 97 εκατ. ευρώ. Τα 4 ξενοδοχεία είναι το Rinela Beach (Κρήτη), Ramina Beach (Κως), Rhodos Maris (Ρόδος) και Roda Beach Village (Κέρκυρα), στο οποίο θα προστεθούν ακόμη 76 δωμάτια.

http://www.express.gr/index.php?selida_id=104&article=84304&categ=4&lang_id=1

I love the way Giorgos thinks.:) We can never be complacent, we must always be hungry and be reaching for the stars.

Too many Greeks employed in tourism are happy to work hard for 6 months and then have a slow 6 months. They're used to it and they like the time off. But Greece needs to improve their domestic aggregate GDP. That means working hard 12 months of the year, just like everyone else!

20 Million tourists would be great. But Greece has the infrastructure and hotels to handle more than that. Every million tourists brings a couple Billion more dollars into the Greek economy. 20 Million tourists would mean another $ 10 Billion! That'd be great!

That's the best way to put it...we must ALWAYS be hungry.
In all of my families experience in terms of Business, hunger to achieve greater is always the key to success.

You can boast all you like about 1 million tourists extra this year, but for me...I want to see more.

Good is not good enough when better is expected.

Good is not good enough when better is expected.


Absolutely! In America where I live, Greeks have the HIGHEST aggregate income of all ethnic groups in two polls that were taken. In another poll, Greeks were second only to Jews-and ahead of everyone else!

What brings that about? Work, hard work. Never settling for "that's good enough" but always striving to do your absolute best!

I live for the day when Greece has the HIGHEST aggregate GDP on the European continent. Then, in addition to living in the one of the finest climates in the world, Greeks will have the highest standard of living!

It's there for us, all we need to do is make it happen. And we're all part of it, everyone of us in the Diaspora. I'm taking my nieces to Greece for their first time next spring-to show them the glories of Hellenism in the homeland. We're going to enjoy ourselves and pump a little money into the Greek economy. Who'll join me?

Well said...

Already ahead of you mate. :)

Sodnal, I think you already know we are on the same page but im endorsing your post anyway. :) Clearly you know what I mean and vice versa.

10% of the richest people in Australia are of Greek Heritage. It makes me think, perhaps we still have that winning element left from the good old days when we ruled and Hellenised the world. I just find it odd how Greek minority groups in foreign nations are so incredibly successful however in Greece its almost the opposite.

A local politician here once published an article pleading that all new Migrants to Australia be like The Greeks. We created jobs and business unlike any others, Australia wouldn't be half the nation it is today without the Greeks of Diaspora.

There just seems to be a trend of low standard in Greece. Jobs are half finished and people seem to lose interest quickly. The mentality is similar to that shown of people here saying 'that will do' or praising something when it could be better.

The way you reach success is treating everything like it is flawed and needs to be improved upon just like the Japanese have done with their work ethic and work place regulations.

And now back to the topic, no I don't think 8% growth is adequate for a nation that really SHOULD be getting over 20 million tourists by now. The reason is lack of vision and very poor conditions for foreign investment.

Be more open minded and do things out of the box. Offer Summer holidays to Greece as a major prize on game shows and quizzes in North America and Asia.

As for the work ethic, come on...we all owe it to ourselves to revive a new Greece, especially the 11 million Greeks living in our homeland. I will certainly be spending my money in Greece when I go there, but there is only so much I can do.

^^ I don't think it's fair to generalise about the Greeks in Greece. There have been many success stories from Greece, against all odds in a volatile region, at the whim of the wider geo-political situation.

Also it hasn't been all peaches and cream for Greeks in the diaspora, including Australia. Many have had to live in social obscurity, put up with discrimination in an isolated part of the world and many have also had to rely on social security and other safety nets. Greeks in the diaspora haven't all been successful and there's some really hard luck and even unsavoury stories. There's no shortage of young Greek-Australians involved with illicit drug usage and other common crimes, though no more than other groups.

I agree Greeks in Greece have a different mentality, not necessarily better or worse than other places, there are pros and cons and I also believe that many Greeks in Greece work hard and party hard.

I lived in Japan and although I admire them highly for their resourcefulness and agree that we could learn a lot from them, I don't entirely admire the Japanese lifestyle and some of the things that go with it. Anyway, there's no way you can compare Greece or any other western country to Japan.

Giorgos, you are absolutely correct. But, I don't blame the Greeks back home so much. At least the average guy in the street. They are made of the same stuff as you and I.

The average Greek worker has been beaten down by lousy government built on graft. I don't want to get into politics again, because I know my strong views offend some folks. But that's a large part of the problems Greece has experienced with their economy.

Combine that with a terrible WW2 (in which one out of 10 Greeks perished!) which destroyed the economy. The Civil war which delayed our rebuilding after the war. The Governments who inflated the Drachma intentionally for political reasons which killed incentive.

But, all that's in the past now. The Euro is strong and stable. NEA seems to be doing what it can to address historical problems with graft and low production government workers. Much more needs to be done, but at least we're working in the right directions.

I have faith in the Greeks back in the home country. They've always met ever crisis and they always will! And it will be private industry that drives the Greek economy, not the government. Greek businessmen are leading the charge into the Balkans and that will create a lot of jobs.

Lets all keep working hard whereever we are and keep projecting the Greek image as DOERS and ACHIEVERS. By the way, Giorgos, my Director is a Greek Australian who came to America. I work for a major multi-national. I'll be going to Japan on business with him in 2 weeks and we'll compare Greek "notes" on they flight over. I think he's Pontian descent, we'll find out!:)

I Apologize if my post sounded offensive, It wasn't blaming anyone at all, just pointing out the mentality difference. :)

Sodnal,

Who exactly do you work for? If you dont want to say on here, which industry do you work in.

Regards.

Greece top destination pick for Austrian tourists
29 Nov 2006 11:09:00

Greece ranks in first place as the number one destination preference for Austrian tourists’ holidays according to data presented by the Austrian National Statistics Service. The number of flights from Austria to Greece for the period January-September increased by 10% in relation to the same period in 2005.

In addition, the largest Austrian tourism organizations report that from the beginning of the year until the end of October, ticket and package sales for Greek destinations increased from 5-20% in relation to last year.

http://www.voiceofgreece.gr/OmogeneiaMainNews_en.asp?ID=22066

China has also listed Greece as the number one destination.

That's what I don't get...Why do some nations prefer Greece over every other country yet we aren't the leaders in tourism in the Balkans? Don't tell me its all about the money either.

If Austria and China find Greece so attractive, I'm sure the rest of the world does too. So why then do people boast when Greece gets around 15 million tourists and a measly boost of 10%?

The potential is there to make Greece a top 10 visited nation...

;10664033']China has also listed Greece as the number one destination.

That's what I don't get...Why do some nations prefer Greece over every other country yet we aren't the leaders in tourism in the Balkans? Don't tell me its all about the money either.

If Austria and China find Greece so attractive, I'm sure the rest of the world does too. So why then do people boast when Greece gets around 15 million tourists and a measly boost of 10%?

The potential is there to make Greece a top 10 visited nation...

Greece is in the top 10 visited nations by tourists. I was reading this yesterday in a British Airways magazine that I kept from a recent trip to Scotland.

Also, you are forgetting France and Italy which are in the top three. Greece is competing against these nations, which, quite frankly, are not tourist destination pushovers.

Can you find a link to your source? Because AFAIK Greece has never been in the top 10.

Maybe its the top 10 most visited flying British Airways but a few years back it was 15 and its slowly slipping back.

EDIT: In 2004:

2004 Rank/Nation/02.03.04/% Change/Market Share
1. France 77.0 75.0 75.1 0.1% 9.8%
2. Spain 52.3 51.8 53.6 3.4 7.0
3. United States 43.6 41.2 46.1 11.8 6.0
4. China 36.8 33.0 41.8 26.7 5.5
5. Italy 39.8 39.6 37.1 –6.4 4.9
6. United Kingdom 24.2 24.7 27.8 12.3 3.6
7. Hong Kong (China) 16.6 15.5 21.8 40.4 2.9
8. Mexico 19.7 18.7 20.6 10.5 2.7
9. Germany 18.0 18.4 20.1 9.5 2.6
10. Austria 18.6 19.1 19.4 1.5 2.5
11. Canada 20.1 17.5 19.2 9.2 2.5
12. Turkey 12.8 13.3 16.8 26.1 2.2
13. Malaysia 13.3 10.6 15.7 48.5 2.1
14. Ukraine 10.5 12.5 15.6 24.9 2.0
15. Poland 14.0 13.7 14.3 4.2 1.9
16. Greece 14.2 14.0 — — —

The figures for 2004 wernt recorded here for Greece but Greece recieved 16.5 million tourists in 2004 putting it in 13th place behind regional rival turkey (who btw had a 26% boost in 2003/2004 period). And lets not forget that was olympic year.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7251/crowdatiocs7.jpg
Amazing...this is what I like to see!

Let's see....a boost.......btw, did I ever mention the Greek huge mountains and becoming a winter sports hub potential?

I believe you did as did I.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/economy__4330158KathiLev&xml/&aspKath/economy.asp?fdate=09/12/2006


Private islands a top target for investors

Billions of euros expected to be spent over the next few years in building resorts or sanctuaries for tycoons

http://www.ekathimerini.com/kathnews/photos/09-12-06/09-12-06_77600_1.gif
Photo: Patroklos, a 4-square-kilometer islet off the coast of Attica, in the Saronic Gulf, is considered prime real estate by prospective investors. The son of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was involved in a controversial bid.

By Nikos Roussanoglou - Kathimerini

The purchase of one of the 60 private islands in Greece has become a particularly attractive proposition for tycoons and business groups thanks to the high cash flows they have enjoyed in the last few years.

Shipowners, entrepreneurs and mainly funds from abroad – such as Cyprus or the Middle East where the rise of oil prices has allowed for a great flow of capital – are the primary so-called island-hunters, who want to turn them into a “private paradise” or to realize tourism-related or real estate developments. In their frequent visits to Greece, foreign entrepreneurs usually talk about their investment interest in real estate and tourism – something which remains a relatively untapped source in this country.

The owners of those islands have by now realized the value of their assets and are rushing to make the most of them in the best possible way. One of the moves recorded a few months ago was the acquisition of Skyropoula, an islet of 4 square kilometers next to Skyros in the northern Aegean.

Sources suggest that the island was sold for 6 million euros by the Antoniadis family to one or more members of the Haji-Ioannou shipping family, whose best-known member is Stelios, the founder of easyGroup (which includes easyJet and easyCruise). Another recent purchase was that of the islet Kythro, near Lefkada. It is reported that Kythro, which measures 0.8 square kilometers, has cost an unnamed Greek investor some –2.5 million.

These are cases of private investments which will only be used by the islands’ new owners. Yet the island market has a far greater appeal if it involves the islands being developed for tourism with the construction of holiday housing complexes.

Such is the case of the 0.5-square kilometer island of Alatas in the Pagasitikos Gulf, near Volos. Reports suggest that the island has been leased for the next 50 years by United Five Development of Cyprus, which is expected to invest more than –50 million. These funds concern the construction of major hotel units of 900 beds, complete with restaurants, recreation facilities, tennis courts and swimming pools.

There are similar plans for Arkoudi island, in the Ionian north of Cephalonia. A –100 million investment that will create 300 jobs is in the works. The project will cover 4 square kilometers comprising 140 super-luxury accommodation units, a marina, a spa center and an 18-hole golf course as well as many other sports facilities. Entrepreneur Giorgos Stavropoulos is in charge of this tourism investment. This is one of the most important developing projects in Greece, as it will create an all-new destination for tourism.

Another island sold is Drymos, acquired by a group of British investors involved in property development. The purchase of the Cycladic island, which measures 3 square kilometers, is estimated to have cost –4.2 million.

Yet the island which generates perhaps the greatest investment interest is Patroklos, off the Attica coast in the Saronic Gulf. The position of the island, owned by the Giatrakos family of lawyers, and its size of 4.2 square kilometers, have attracted investors’ attention as it has the potential to be turned into a fine tourism resort. Israelis, including the son of former prime minister Ariel Sharon, had been involved in its possible purchase, although the deal has now definitely been abandoned and interest is turning to a foreign tourism group.

Experts believe the price tag on the island is expected to exceed –100 million, as its distance of just 850 meters from the Attica coast renders it a highly attractive destination and appropriate for developing a luxurious holiday resort as well as a marina.

Key factors

Real estate experts argue that the price of every island depends on a variety of factors. The closer it is to the mainland, the more its price rises, as access to it becomes easier. No private island has infrastructure such as public utility connections (power, water, telephone), making it more important for an island to be near the mainland.

Other important factors include whether an island has underground water reserves to be drilled, beach potential or any natural harbors that can be approached by vessels.

But the main factor is whether an island has the essential documents so as to be transferred. These documents need a lot of time and maneuvering through the ministries of National Defense, Environment and Culture before they are issued. Every island sale requires an opinion by the Archaeological Service confirming the non-existence of antiquities and by the Forest Service about the non-registering of the island as forestland. It also requires a certificate from the National Defense and the Merchant Marine ministries (via the Greek navy) attesting that the island in question is not under any national security restrictions.

Consequently there are difficulties in the transferring of private islands near Turkey, as well as the Echinades islands in the Ionian Sea, since the latter area has entered the Natura 2000, a European Union program, according to which certain areas are protected and no access to them is allowed. All those documents may well require up to 12 months before they are issued.

More confusing is the inclusion of all Greek islands in the border regions. This means that the state maintains its right to repurchase each island if it so wishes and if the private status of the island is clear. If an island changes hands, the state can still repossess it from its next owner within one year.

Current owners

Most of the owners of islands who have now put them on sale have inherited them from their ancestors, who in turn acquired them straight after the Turkish occupation, in the 19th century. As a result, many owners have had to take matters to the Supreme Court in order to claim them. Most of the owners have been granted a decision which gave them the title deeds. In any case, anyone interested in buying an island must be extremely careful with the title deeds and the accompanying documents. Most islands for sale have the full set of required documents.

Over the years, several Greeks bought an island mostly for their own private use, such as well-known Skorpios, which measures 0.8 square kilometers, bought by Aristotle Onassis. Today Skorpios has been completely abandoned, with some rumors circulating about its upcoming sale by Athina Onassis, the tycoon’s granddaughter, although this has been officially denied.

The shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, Onassis’s biggest rival, also acquired Spetsopoula, southeast of Spetses, in order to host to his important guests. Revmatonissi, off the island of Paros, was purchased by Dolly Goulandris, while shipowner Panayiotis Tsakos bought Atokos island in the Ionian.

Cypriot group ready to invest 2 billion euros on the island of Dokos

One of the recent efforts to purchase a Greek island came from Cypriot group Kerlengou Island Investments Plan Ltd. It concerns the uninhabited island of Dokos, which measures 12 square kilometers and is located between Hydra and Spetses, just off the eastern coast of the Peloponnese.

Reports from Cyprus suggest that Costas Kerlengos acquired the island on November 17, following a private auction by the Livanos family, the island’s previous owner. Dokos cost its new owners –180 million.

Kerlengos’s aim is to turn the island into a holiday destination by developing hotel units, housing complexes in the form of villages, as well as isolated luxury houses, investing a total of –2 billion. He also intends to sell up to 12,000 plots of land, starting at –75,000 each.

The first studies regarding the future development of the island have already started. Due to the existence of many antiquities, the Kerlengos group can only use 7 square kilometers of Dokos, as the rest must remain undeveloped. Kerlengos stated that interest has already come from parties in Greece, Cyprus and the Middle East, and that he has lined up a Greek architectural firm to assist with the development. Construction is due to begin in early 2008.

Sodnal works for GM, Byzknight. I'm an engineering manager for them, spend a lot of time in Japan. Flew there 8 times this year.

It was cold but mostly sunny this last month in Japan. Just got back. They have a service mentality that Greeks tourism entrepreneurs could learn a lot about. They're all about the details. Not particularly innovative, but what they do they do very well.

The new Advertising Campaign for 2007

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/21X28_karyatides.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/21X28_sounio.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/21X28_mylos.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/21X28_conference.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/natical_21x28.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/luxury21x28.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/fun_21x28.jpg http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/thumbs/country-side_21x28.jpg

You can see the high resolution images on the Greek National Tourism Organisation (http://www.gnto.gr/pages?pageID=42&langID=2)

^^ I love them! Showing alittle bit of all Greece has to offer. Sun, fun, history, beauty, sites.

Great.

Nice advertising campaign. Does anybody which ad agency makes Greece's tourism ads?

No idea.

But I do know that the GNTO runs ads in the Toronto Sun newspaper every week now offering a contest for a free trip to Athens and highlighting the sites and sounds.

Belgium:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/anvers_column.jpg

Beijing, China:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Beijing-1.jpg

Berlin, Germany:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/berlin_Kirche.jpg

Cannes, France:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/cannes2.jpg

Copenhagen, Denmark:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/denmark_copenhagen1.jpg

Finland:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/finland1.jpg

London, England:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/london_outdoor_Bus.jpg

Madrid, Spain:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/madrid_metro_opera.jpg

Milan, Italy:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/milano2.jpg

Moscow, Russia:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/moscow1.jpg

Oslo, Norway:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/oslo1.jpg

Paris, France:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/paris_champs_elysees.jpg

Shanghai, China:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/shanghai_Xin_Tian_Di.jpg

Stockholm, Sweden:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/sweden_stockholm1.jpg

London, England:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Armoury_Way.jpg

Belgium:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Belgium_01.jpg

Berlin, Germany:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Berlin_01.jpg

Denmark:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Denmark.jpg

Estonia:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Esthonia.jpg

Finland:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Finland_02.jpg

Geneva, Switzerland:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Geneva.jpg

Portugal:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Jernimos.jpg

Latvia:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Latvia.jpg

Lithuania:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Lithuania.jpg

USA:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/New_York_03.jpg

Norway:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Norway_01.jpg

Paris, France:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Paris_01.jpg

Peking, China:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/pekino_01.jpg

Rome, Italy:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Roma_02.jpg

Slovenia:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Slovenia_01.jpg

Barcelona, Spain:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Spain_02.jpg

London, England:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Subway.jpg

Vienna, Austria:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/ViennaInnerCity.jpg

Zurich, Switzerland:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/protaras/Zurich.jpg

^ thanks for stealing my post off GS :P j/k no worries, it's obviously meant to b shared and viewed by all

Hey sorry about that mate. :cheers1:

wow, the campaign looks pretty good in terms of banner advertising.
But what else is happening? The banners dont really tell you much about Greece. They should atleast have a web address so people can visit.

New year, new thread.

Don't know what season these are from, but let's lead off with them....

LIVE YOUR MYTH IN GREECE.....
v/QQn-XAqCxEM
v/hM2swTzVoUY

Commercial from the Dutch Airline company Transavia. Nice weather. :cheers:
v/3eHQvZJ3jew

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=11414029#post11414029

Old (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=327785) thread.

Live you Myth in Greece is the old campaign...the new one for 2007 will be called "Explore Your Senses In Greece"

I liked a lot Live your myth and remember the huge billboards they erected for them inbetween Athens and Spata with the ones on the way to the Airport saying something like, Greece remembers your Myth or something funny like that. I think the new ones are very clever and very stylishly articulate. I think though they should be posted in big so you can see them how I see them in London and how they are supposed to be seen, I think it helps to make a fair judgement:

http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/21X28_karyatides.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/21X28_sounio.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/21X28_mylos.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/natical_21x28.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/21X28_conference.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/luxury21x28.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/fun_21x28.jpg
http://www.gnto.gr/EmentorImages/Image/campaign/2007/press/jpg/country-side_21x28.jpg

^^ Ωραίος.

Κλειδώνετε και μεταφέρετε στο αρχείο (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=11438181#post11438181)

Greek tourism up 10 percent in 2006, according to preliminary figures

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/23/business/EU-FIN-ECO-Greece-Tourism.php

The Associated Press Published: January 23, 2007

ATHENS, Greece: Preliminary figures show that nearly 16 million tourists visited Greece in 2006, a 10 percent increase from the previous year, the tourism minister said Tuesday.

The tourists spent an estimated €12 billion (US$15.7 billion) last year, also an increase of 10 percent from 2005, Fani Pali Petralia said. Official figures on tourism for 2006 have not yet been released.

"Tourism is a blood donor for the Greek economy, contributing €1 billion (US$1.3 billion) to the national economy every month ... 2006 was a very good year," Petralia said after meeting Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The government plans to spend more than €40 million (US$52 million) on its advertising campaign to promote Greece as a holiday destination — with international television ads taking up most of the cost.

"There was an increase in the order of 10 percent in tourist arrivals, close to 16 million visitors. That generated a 10 percent increase in currency revenue, equivalent to €12 billion," Petralia said.

Government officials say private and public infrastructure improvements for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens have helped attract more visitors, as well as a general regard by travelers of Greece as a safe destination.

Diabaste to sxetiko arthro:
http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_1_24/01/2007_213208

The new campaign is brilliant...It basically broadens the market with the amount of different varieties it displays for example the business side of Tourism...

I'm expecting a much more deserved number of tourists in 2007...16 million still seems low to me for a nation like Greece.

I think it isn't too far out of reach to expect at least 19 million this year as long as nothing tragic halts the arrival.

I like those billboard posters :okay: Very nicely done.

Diabaste to sxetiko arthro:
http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_1_24/01/2007_213208

In English too....

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/economy__3161527KathiLev&xml/&aspKath/economy.asp?fdate=24/01/2007

More than 16 million tourists expected to visit Greece in 2007

A record over-16 million tourists are expected to visit Greece this year, according to Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia, following two years of increase in arrivals and including a 10 percent rise last year. She told the Inner Cabinet that tourism contributes 1 billion euros per month to the economy, helping the development of the regions outside major cities. The meeting viewed positively the creation of golf courses combined with developing tourism units, which was distinguished from simple holiday house development. The outstanding town-planning issues of hotels are another priority, as they concern more than 80 percent of hotels.

I would like to see less tourists in Greece. The small country that it is, can not sustain more visitors than it already hosts, without damaging further an already damaged environment. The income will still come in if you target the right tourists, young and old. Time to wind down places like Faliraki etc. El cheapo tourists can go to other places for that. Special InterstTourism, that is more year round should be promoted. The latest campaign is OK, but still focussing on the tired ol'images of Greece.

^^ Less tourists??? Absolutely no!! Tourism is the BIGGEST domestic "industry" and we woudn't want to reduce it's volume not even for a joke! This campaign is wonderful and i'm for to keep showing our classical treasures and beauties through a renovating point of view. On the other hand we must do everything to expand our infastructures and trying to improve our services so when tourists comes to Greece have all the modern facilities required combined with our natural beauties etc. As for the "quality" of foreing visitors, how exactly you propose we can manage to keep attract the upper class only?

I guess force people pay for dinner $$$ numbers? :ohno:

Sorry but the idea of less tourist is crazy... And can be labeled as: "ONLY IN GREECE"

LOL

Agreed.

Unless one can find a suitable substitute indsutry to generate $1 billion per month, tourism must grow for Greece to thrive.

Neorion I believe is simply warning against things he sees in other country's. Former communist nations like Bulgaria and Croatia are selling their coasts to foreign companies which are developing them like mad. Prime beach front real estate is being swallowed by these massive resorts. This can be avoided in Greece, both the selling of land to foreign companies and the over-development. But then again these nations are relatively 'new' to the tourist 'game' and have little choice in order to make money.

In the same way the huge malls of N.America must be built only where needed and in small numbers, so must massive concrete resorts too. The solution for the huge indoor malls in a nation like Greece would be smaller green-friendly pedestrian style outdoor malls which take advantage of the great weather and don't instill the 'mall mentality'. So the solution to the tourist section is smaller scale green-friendly development in the villa template. This can cater to the upscale too.

Big developments where needed are good, like the one in Crete going on, but overall the only thing needed is to shy away from the huge impersonal massive resorts (which incidentally also mean more 'all inclusive' packages where people spend less money in the community overall) to more personal smaller eco-friendly places.

http://www.archontikokoytsis.com/en_index.php
http://www.archontikokoytsis.com/images/photos/pics/01.jpg
http://www.archontikokoytsis.com/images/photos/pics2/01.jpg


^^^ More this, less this....

http://www.allgreecetravel.com/rhodes/hotels/img/rodian_amathus_beach_resort_rhodes_exterior-sm.jpg

^^ Less tourists??? Absolutely no!! Tourism is the BIGGEST domestic "industry" and we woudn't want to reduce it's volume not even for a joke! This campaign is wonderful and i'm for to keep showing our classical treasures and beauties through a renovating point of view. On the other hand we must do everything to expand our infastructures and trying to improve our services so when tourists comes to Greece have all the modern facilities required combined with our natural beauties etc. As for the "quality" of foreing visitors, how exactly you propose we can manage to keep attract the upper class only? No, certainly not ONLY upper class, I'm very much opposed to elitism. That's not what I meant. Special Interest tourists who are interested in particular themes should be targeted; wine tourism, agrotourism, gastronomical tourism, religious tourism, winter wonderland etc. I've said this b4 as well, Greeks should be just as hospitable to back packers as they are to luxury cruise line visitors because one day those back packers will grow up and remember the way Greece 'treated' them. So, along with tourists who come for the sun, beach, landscape and antiquities the GNTO should try to attract special interest tourists who will be dispersed more evenly around the country all year round. Not just packing them in as much as possible over summer to break new visitor records.

I guess force people pay for dinner $$$ numbers?

Sorry but the idea of less tourist is crazy... And can be labeled as: "ONLY IN GREECE" I stand by that statement. More is not merrier for Greece, basically because it can't handle it properly and therefore standards drop. The key word here is 'properly'. Satisfied tourists will return year after year, unsatisfied ones will move on to the next place. I think the 'only in Greece' quote would fit more into; Greece's biggest industry is tourism yet it doesn't have a fantastic tourism website.

I think your forgetting though that probably over 10 million of these tourists come in the Summer months.

There is room for expansion...and that is found in the over 9 months of the year.
Id like very much to see winter tourism infrastructure set up in Greece such as ski resorts and the like. But then how does Greece compete with the developed winter wonderlands? Build big and glamorous.

I am really disappointed that Greece really isn't going anywhere too fast with its tourism industry, especially in comparison to the competitors.

In 2006, turkey lost 1 million tourists...I wonder if these people ended up coming to Greece. I hope not, because that means that 16 million tourists was really breaking the barriers.

Upgrading tourism

Perhaps it takes –40 million to advertise Greece’s tourism abroad. And there can be no accurate estimation of a campaign’s effectiveness. Pioneering English businessman and founder of Lever Brothers (now Unilever), William Hesketh Lever, once famously stated that half of the money he spent on advertising was wasted. The problem, he said, was he had no way of knowing which half.

In order to advertise Greece as a destination for tourism, one fears that more than half of the money will be wasted because the country still trails others in terms of infrastructure. It is not just that Turkey and Croatia already have more sailboats, speedboats, and other leisure boats than Greece. It’s everything else that makes a good tourism product – clean streets, marinas, visitor services at archaeological sites. Greece is sorely lacking in all these respects.

Tourism needs a strong advertising campaign. But we should always keep in mind that nothing kills a bad product faster than good advertising. Upgrading our products must be a top priority for all of our governments.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_100018_10/01/2007_78682

So true.
Greece has come so far without even developing itself or trying to be a tourist hot spot...Now I think its time that the government properly invested money to help this already important industry expand.

The government can and should invest in better infrastructure. For example airports. Have you seen the state that Heraklion airport is in!!! The first impression that a visitor to Crete gets is this horrible airport and its chaotic surroundings!

But we can not except that the central government takes care of everything. Local government should apply more of the revenue that is generated by the tourists in the form of taxes to improve public spaces. A nice promenade and a park catch the eye. Well constructed pavements on central roads don't only look nice but also save lives.

All in all there is a lot of room for improvement.

I would like to see less tourists in Greece. The small country that it is, can not sustain more visitors than it already hosts, without damaging further an already damaged environment. The income will still come in if you target the right tourists, young and old. Time to wind down places like Faliraki etc. El cheapo tourists can go to other places for that. Special InterstTourism, that is more year round should be promoted. The latest campaign is OK, but still focussing on the tired ol'images of Greece.

First and above all it's not a small country but a medium one, that minimalist point of view is completelly false and non existent, it's well recognized our nation is a medium sized one (btw just a few days ago someone was commenting on a TV program that the small sized idea is established in many Greeks minds, mainly among the older population and that it's not true at all).

Second, less tourism?!?!?!?! This is the first time I read or hear something like that in a lifetime (it's like having a commercial store and wishing for less customers).

Third what Greece should do is absolutely the opposite, that is increasing the number of visitors by expanding the tourism high season from the current 6 months period to a year round one, promoting winter destinations (having on mind that Greece is as rich in mountainous natural resources as in maritime one if not more) we could raise the number of visitors to a 25 millions level in less than a decade. Also the quality would be really high, as usually winter tourism is more expensive than its summer counterpart, as well as winter sports maniacs (including myself) use to spend more money during their holidays.

Second, less tourism?!?!?!?! This is the first time I read or hear something like that in a lifetime (it's like having a commercial store and wishing for less customers).


That might not be a bad idea at all. Greece is not a big Mall, it is a country.
It has infrastructure, hospitals, police, resources and an environment that can sustain a certain number of people.

(For example, the electricity consumption and water supply, experience huge peaks during the summer and we spend money to increase the capacity of those systems that is not used during the rest of the year)

Furthermore, there are many people that don't want to swim in crowded beaches, or stay in huge impersonal hotels, dance in enormous clubs and so on. There are others that like to do so of course, or they don't have another choice given their budget.

There is a reason we call some places "Touristic", and with no good meaning.

But the fact is that if we can sustain the same level of cash inflow from less tourists, I would much prefer it, than for example doubling the number of visitors per year.


The idea of neorion about niche markets could also be very effective.

Wow. I just saw one of the advertisements for Greece on ERT World. Best compilation of Greece I've ever seen, placing emphasis on both the most modern and the most ancient sites. Really amazing...

This private initiative will ensure that tourists can put the new campaign "Explore your senses" into practice! The airline Airsealines (www.airsealines.com) will give Island hopping a whole new meaning. They use seaplanes!!!


http://www.airsealines.com/gallery/img/1-DF6C9852.jpg

http://www.airsealines.com/gallery/img/ASL_flight_1000.jpg

http://www.airsealines.com/gallery/img/3-ASL_sunset_1000.jpg

http://www.airsealines.com/gallery/img/docked%20on%20water.jpg

http://www.airsealines.com/gallery/img/5_plane2.jpg

Airsealines already offers flights from Corfu, Paxos, Ithaki, Lefkas, Patras and Ioannina. The company's new base in Lavrio is now ready and they are going to over flights to a multitude of Aegean islands (Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, Paros, Kalymnos and Kos).

..and here are the new TV Spots of the international campaign "explore your senses"

the whole spot:

6N3wAk7sUug

and the short ones

Meet the Culture
7NaAb2zAeRI

Feel the Blue
tziNMJS8xmA

Join the Party
n0p6R60aszE

Discover the Beauty
6IN0Wq9rc2A

Sail the Dream
aL5yfAR1tmw

and the Making Off
cdKdToqCvXQ

they are all realy very beautiful,.. fantastic job...

Wow. The "Making Of" is really great. What a country... Ζητω η Ελλας!

It shows that this is truly the most beautiful nation on earth!

... it shows how wonderful and blessed this land is... nothing more nothing less

Great videos!

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/economy__257513KathiLev&xml/&aspKath/economy.asp?fdate=03/03/2007

Investors pick sites in Crete’s giant holiday resort projects

Planned developments to operate year-round as havens for tourists

NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU

Investments of more than –1.6 billion for the development of tourism resorts and housing are about to be implemented in Crete, following years of planning.

They concern integrated complexes which combine holiday houses, hotels, golf courses and complementary installations such as restaurants and sports facilities. The aim of the project is not just to attract high-income tourists, but also to prolong the tourism period.

The biggest and most complex development concerns a plot of 25 square kilometers on the Sidero peninsula on the northeastern tip of Crete. This is one of the most debated-over projects due to the size of the investment, estimated to come to –1.2 billion.

The plot belongs to the Toplou Monastery, with the development and operation undertaken by a British investment group, Minoan Group (former LoyalWard), since 1995 for the next 80 years.

After 11 years of trying, the company late late month received the official approval of its environmental study, opening the way for the first infrastructure projects to start, scheduled for this May, while this fall the construction of buildings will begin.

The plan provides for the building of just 1 percent of the whole plot, with the creation of six tourism villages of holiday houses, three four- and five-star hotels and some supplementary sports and cultural facilities. The resort will have a total capacity of 7,000 beds, although originally the plans had provided for 12,000 beds. The total construction will reach 255,000 square meters, 65 percent related to houses.

Cavo Sidero is expected to start operating in 2009, but works will continue until 2017, when it will be completed. It will also include two golf courses, which will support the resort’s effort to operate throughout the year. The project’s funding will be made exclusively through bank loans, while Minoan has already invested –40.3 million for the development of the project (in the form of successive share capital increases).

Another important investment, although significantly smaller, has been planned since the end of the previous decade by Iktinos Technical and Tourist, which will develop a tourism resort of 2 sq.km. at Faneromenis Bay, near Sitia in Crete, budgeted at –130 million.

Evangelos Haidas, the firm’s chairman, suggested that the company’s environmental study and construction plan had been approved. Works are expected to begin in late 2008. The plan includes the creation of a five-star hotel with 700 beds, a marina hosting 85 yachts, a 500-people conference hall and 300 holiday houses. The second stage of the project includes the creation of an 18-hole golf course and a new holiday village of 500 houses.

Cypriot company DolphinCI Thirteen Ltd participates in the development as a main investor and shareholder. It is a 100 percent subsidiary of Dolphin Capital Investors, listed on the London stock market’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Dolphin controls 80 percent of Iktinos Hellas’s subsidiary, Latirus Enterprises Ltd, which control Iktinos Technical and Tourist, the owner of the plot in Siteia.

Another important investment is that of the Fotiadis group from Cyprus at Aghia Galini, south of Rethymnon in western Crete, on a 1.6 sq.km. plot. Emerald Developments, a Fotiadis subsidiary, will invest –310 million in the development of a resort with dozens of holiday houses, two five-star hotels and a golf course.

It will also include a conference center and more sports facilities.

Another investment at Cavo Plako in Eastern Crete by EAAK SA is at a preliminary stage. It concerns a 4 sq.km. plot owned by Dakis Joannou, one of the main shareholders of J&P Overseas construction firm.

Its planning includes hotels, houses and a golf course.

http://www.minoangroup.com/index.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2007-03-09-handheld-gadget-greece_N.htm?csp=34

New gadget promises to enhance tourist experience in Greece

ATHENS (AP) — If you have ever wandered around a dusty Greek archaeological site in midsummer, clueless about what you are seeing or where you are going, help is finally at hand.

Greece's Culture Ministry on Thursday unveiled a handheld gadget for visitors that offers high-resolution video, detailed diagrams of sites such as ancient temples, position indicators, and imagery along with stereo sound.

The battery-powered, touchscreen devices are about the size and weight of a personal stereo — weighing just 270 grams, or 9.5 ounces. Instructions come in four languages — Greek, English, German and French.

The units will be available at 15 sites around the country including the Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Thessaloniki's archaeological and Byzantine museums, Delphi, Rhodes, Olympia, Mycenae, Vergina, Epidaurus and Knossos in Crete.

"We are offering visitors one of the most technologically advanced tourist guides in Europe," Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said at a news conference.

The cost for assembling and programming 5,000 units came to euro9.5 million.

The system, developed by Siemens and Fujitsu, will first be tested in Thessaloniki and Mycenae and should be available at all sites by summer 2008. Rental prices are yet to be determined, Voulgarakis said.

The ministry also unveiled new automated ticketing systems for 18 major tourist sites, which will cut down on waiting time for visitors.

Greece is expected to draw more than 15 million tourists this year — more than its total population of around 11 million — but its famed cultural sites have until now been slow to introduce technological support for visitors, such as the audio guides frequently used at museums abroad.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Still frightens me to see this:
Greece is expected to draw more than 15 million tourists this year

But good news nonetheless.

15 Million tourists with all the negative international media coverage from the daily streets fights between MAT/Police and protesting students and anarchists.....:ohno:

I don't want to sound negative, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Greece's tourism numbers will go backwards this year... I hope I'm wrong though and the 15M mark is reached.:)

^^ Where have you been? The leftists have been at their BS for decades now.

15 Million tourists with all the negative international media coverage from the daily streets fights between MAT/Police and protesting students and anarchists.....

I don't want to sound negative, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Greece's tourism numbers will go backwards this year... I hope I'm wrong though and the 15M mark is reached.

Nah don't worry in summer schools and universities are closed :lol:

There is nothing 'leftist' about those mindless twats in the minority but loud and destructive, beating up their 'own mother', so to speak. They are more akin to fascists with their flagrant disregard for democracy and excessive use of violence. But yeah, I agree no doubt Greece's image has taken a battering as images of central Athens is seen across the world as a war zone that the authorities can not control, not to mention that many of Athens' best hotels have prime views of all the uncivilised behaviour. Same old 'Greek tragedy' one step forward, two steps back.

Anyway, at the end of the day it affects Athens and the mainland more than it does the islands, which no doubt will still be pumping with tourists this year as usual.

Well imo there wont be any change in the country's image.
I don't even remember a single year that we haven't such incidents in Athens, also the tourists aren't coming to the country to stay in Athens, mostly they are just visiting Athens and then turn to the islands and the beaches.

I'd like to share a recent observation.

My posts are very few, but I enjoy this forum with its great photo posts and informative topics.

I am a Greek-American and live in New York. I watch some Greek television, read some local Greek newspapers, and listen to some Greek radio broadcasts. Lately, I've noticed that every time I look at these media, I see ads for tourism in Greece.

The Greek media in NY is naturally marketed to the Greek Diaspora. The thought that comes to my mind is 'why would a Greek person need an ad to remind him/her to go back to Greece?' Every Greek I know, including myself, longs for the time when they are able to spend 3 or 4 weeks in Greece.

On the flip side of that coin, to my recollection, since the 2004 Olympics I have not seen a single ad in any American media. Perhaps I have not been looking in the right places, but recently I've been keeping my eyes open for them.

I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks this to be illogical...

I'd like to share a recent observation.

My posts are very few, but I enjoy this forum with its great photo posts and informative topics.

I am a Greek-American and live in New York. I watch some Greek television, read some local Greek newspapers, and listen to some Greek radio broadcasts. Lately, I've noticed that every time I look at these media, I see ads for tourism in Greece.

The Greek media in NY is naturally marketed to the Greek Diaspora. The thought that comes to my mind is 'why would a Greek person need an ad to remind him/her to go back to Greece?' Every Greek I know, including myself, longs for the time when they are able to spend 3 or 4 weeks in Greece.

On the flip side of that coin, to my recollection, since the 2004 Olympics I have not seen a single ad in any American media. Perhaps I have not been looking in the right places, but recently I've been keeping my eyes open for them.

I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks this to be illogical...

No you are spot on with your observation. I thought the exact same thing. Why focus all the advertising on a demographic you already have? It makes no sense to me either. I have seen the spots on Greek television in NY as well. Thanks, I know Greece is nice, you didn't have to tell me. I don't get what they're thinking.

I would like to see less tourists in Greece. The small country that it is, can not sustain more visitors than it already hosts, without damaging further an already damaged environment. The income will still come in if you target the right tourists, young and old. Time to wind down places like Faliraki etc. El cheapo tourists can go to other places for that. Special InterstTourism, that is more year round should be promoted. The latest campaign is OK, but still focussing on the tired ol'images of Greece.


Third what Greece should do is absolutely the opposite, that is increasing the number of visitors by expanding the tourism high season from the current 6 months period to a year round one, promoting winter destinations (having on mind that Greece is as rich in mountainous natural resources as in maritime one if not more) we could raise the number of visitors to a 25 millions level in less than a decade. Also the quality would be really high, as usually winter tourism is more expensive than its summer counterpart, as well as winter sports maniacs (including myself) use to spend more money during their holidays.

Let's not forget that in the summer months too...tourists concentrate in certain areas. While places like Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, and the Cyclades are saturated with summer visitors, there are gorgeous coastal towns in the Peloponnese and Epirus that can benefit from an increase in tourism.

And the best part is, Greece has the experience to guide new tourism development wisely. Unlike Bulgaria, as someone broght up earlier.

I was reading a few years back about tax incentives for investors -both foreign and domestic- to invest in the tourism industry. The country was broken down into zones, from most to least saturated. The less saturated, the greater the tax incentive for investors, as a way of encouraging new tourism infrastructure in lacking places, while ensuring that investors would get a good return. The most saturated zone was the two islands of Rhodes and Corfu for which there were no tax incentives.

Greece has the ability to attract even more tourists, with more recreation centers (golf courses, marinas, water parks), more conference centers, etc, and the government is well aware of this, which is why they've started working on it. The improvement of the country's transportation infrastructure will also bring in more visitors. Right now, most tourists are people who fly into a single destination on a package tour. With the improvement of transportation infrastructure, the country will also be able to attract the kinds fo visitors who want to hop off and on the train to see multiple towns on the mainland, or bring their car and drive around, etc... It takes time for all these things, but it is slowly happening.

I'd like to share a recent observation.

My posts are very few, but I enjoy this forum with its great photo posts and informative topics.

I am a Greek-American and live in New York. I watch some Greek television, read some local Greek newspapers, and listen to some Greek radio broadcasts. Lately, I've noticed that every time I look at these media, I see ads for tourism in Greece.

The Greek media in NY is naturally marketed to the Greek Diaspora. The thought that comes to my mind is 'why would a Greek person need an ad to remind him/her to go back to Greece?' Every Greek I know, including myself, longs for the time when they are able to spend 3 or 4 weeks in Greece.

On the flip side of that coin, to my recollection, since the 2004 Olympics I have not seen a single ad in any American media. Perhaps I have not been looking in the right places, but recently I've been keeping my eyes open for them.

I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks this to be illogical...

Actually, EOT does advertise in the US to Anglo-Americans, and I think that their strategy is actually a very good one.

I see advertisements for Greece all the time in American travel publications such as Travel & Lesiure, National Geographic Traveler, and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as in the Travel section of major newspapers, such as the Chicago Tribune.

Now, the reason EOT doesn't advertise in more places (billboards, TV ads), is because EOT is trying to target people who are likely to travel long-distance. This is in sharp contrast to the average German or Briton who just wants a nearby sun-and-beach destination. In nearby countries, such as Britain and Germany, it makes more sense for EOT to advertise on billboards and on television (as well as travel publications).

For an American to travel such a long distance, however, they must be interested in more than just sun-and-beach. Americans who come to Greece will either be people who: A.) are taking a wider tour of Europe and/or the Mediterranean region..or B.) are seasoned travelers who are looking for culture. THOSE potential tourists are best targetted by advertising in travel publications. By advertising on television or billboards, EOT would be wasting money. The average American who only wants sun and beach will travel to much closer destinations, like Florida, the Carolinas, California, Texas, Mexico, Central America, or the Carribean.

As for adveritsing to the Greek diaspora, this makes sense too. As a member of the diaspora myself, you'd be surprised how little many Greek-Americans know about Greece. Of the ones born in the US, you ask many of them to name an island, and over 90% can only name Mykonos or Santorini. I remember some Greek-American friends looking through my pictures of Rhodes and Corfu, and they were saying "that doesn't look like Greece" ...many Greek-Americans think the entire country is supposed to look like the Cyclades. I think that advertising to Greek-Americans encourages them to see new areas of the country they haven't explored before and -consequently- spend money in those areas.

I do agree with neorion on one thing, though. That aside from beaches and young people, the country should also emphasize its cultural assets a little bit more. Take advatnage of the renovated old towns of Ermoupoli, Kastoria, Hania, Corfu, Rhodes, etc, and include them in adverrisements. Historical architecture and charming pedestrianized towns are a major part of tourism appeal.

FYI everyone, the government is aiming at close to 20 million annual visitors by 2010. It seems doable, seeing approximately a 1 million jump last year.

^^ That's right, I've seen many times the question ''Does it snow at Greece?'', even in this forum. Unfortunately many foreigners (mostly Americans) think that all Greece looks like Mykonos, they don't know famous places, full of green, like Kerkyra, Chalkidiki, Sporades, Rhodes, etc.

Not just that, skylinearth, but Greek-Americans also think that the architecture on all the islands is Cycladic. They don't understand that there's different island chains, each with its own climate and history (neoclassical and medieval gothic influence in some of the Dodecanese Islands, heavy baroque influence in the Ionians which also receive a lot of rain, etc...)

A lot of Greek-Americans also don't understand the concept of Greek regions (Peloponnese, Thessaly, Makedonia, etc), let alone prefectures. I'll ask someone born in the US where in Greece their family is from, and many of them will give me the name of a village, as if I'm supposed to know it. I'll then politely ask, do you know what region that's in (Thessalia? Makedonia?), or what major city it's near (Larisa? Patra?) "Oh I don't know."

I think that EOT is getting a pretty good investment by advertising to them, and encouraging them to learn more about the country and visit new and intriguing places. But this would also rely on EOT using new advertising techniques, and not relying on the same old images.

Thanks Skyduster, you've put it in a different perspective and it makes some sense to me now. I guess I have been looking in the wrong places.

Incidentally, I am travelling to Greece in September, and advertisements were not part of my decision.;)

I see it in Australia too...the only place I have seen Greece advertised is on ANT1 Pacific. Why?!
The commercial plays hourly at least. We know what Greece is like...instead put it on a commercial Australian channel so they will realise the beauty of Greece too!

;14191005']I see it in Australia too...the only place I have seen Greece advertised is on ANT1 Pacific. Why?!
The commercial plays hourly at least. We know what Greece is like...instead put it on a commercial Australian channel so they will realise the beauty of Greece too!

Here in the US, I see it play on ERT World only.

I have actually wondered this before. If they were VERY serious about promoting tourism in the US, could it be worth it to pay a big amount of money and play a tourism commercial during the Super Bowl?

For those of you who dont know, the Super Bowl is a HUGE event in the US. And as much as people watch the event to see Football (American), it is also watched sometimes JUST for the commercials. Companies spend millions for a spots. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl

The Super Bowl is usually the most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year, attracting many companies to spend millions of dollars on commercials.

In 2007 about 93 million Americans watched it, and it was reported that companies spent as much as $2.6 million for a 30 second spot. But CNN reported that after discounts, it was more like $1.8 to $2 million.

Could it be worth it for Greece? I actually think so. The commercials are a big thing, and the next day EVERY news program replays them, they are talked about, youtube has a special section for them as well as other internet sites, and they get alot of media coverage. And you got to spend money to make money. :p

Yes, but you need to spend that money wisely. You could be right. :) But I'm not sure if broadcasting Greece advertisements during the Superbowl will get EOT the best bang for their buck. Those advertising slots are incredibly expensive, and they broadcast to the entire American public, most of whom do not have passports, and would rather spend less money to go to the beach in their own country (Florida, North and South Carolina, Texas, California, New England, Puerto Rico)...those who do have a passport for the new North American requirements also have the option of going nearby countries (Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, etc)...

Greece is very similar to Spain and Portugal, and -in proportion to their population size- all 3 countries receive about the same number of tourists. (Portugal with a population of about 10 million, receives slightly fewer tourists than Greece. Spain -population 40 million- receives about 50-60 million tourists I beleive...roughly the same as Greece proportionally). If you notice, all three of these countries (Greece, Spain, Portugal) advertise in the same places to Americans: travel publications. Neither of these countries advetises on television or on billboards, because it wouldn't really be worth it, at least I don't think so. Why advertise on billboards and during the superbowl? Which American would rather spend $1400 to visit Greece in July/August...instead of going to South Carolina or California for a couple hudred? Or Mexico/Carribean to escape American winters, again for a couple hundred? And then there's cheap Cuba for the Canadians. The type of Americans and Canadians who are likely to spend all that money to visit Greece, or Portugal, or Spain, are either the more seasoned travelers who are into sightseeing and culture, or average Americans taking a once-in-a-lifetime grand tour of Europe or the Mediterranean. These people are more effectively targetted through travel publications and/or travel agencies and/or the internet, IMO.

As for European countries (Germany, Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, etc), as well as Israel, it makes more sense to target the general population. And -indeed- it's working. The number of tourists from France, Israel, Belgium, Russia, even Romania and Bulgaria, has risen dramatically. For the French, Greece is a short flight (and that's how the vast majority of French tourists come, although they also have the option of driving through Italy, if they want to do a combination ITaly-Greece tour). For the Italians and Israelis, it's even easier: about 60-70% of Italians and Israelis fly to Greece, but they can also hop on a ferry. Most Romanians drive. I think that, while it's good to also target Americans, Canadians, and East Asians (South Koreans, Japanese, and China's growing middle class)...we should remember that our primary bread and butter are tourists from NEARBY countries, and we need to continue to advertise so that they don't forget Greece. And Greece has the pluses and is able to compete; yes, Greece is getting more expensive, but it's also got more experience and infrastructure than Romania's Black Sea Coast, English is widely understood, there's a plethora of cultural events, and -unlike countires in North Africa like Egypt- Greece is SAFE for tourists. AND I think that a huge potential market is the nearby Middle East. Greece is already growing in popularity with Israelis, but most Israelis only come in the summer, and Israel is Greece's only major market in the Middle Eat at the moment. Israel is a country where Greece can promote its winter tourism. TLV-ATH and TLV-SKG are short flights, Israelis can come to Greece for some skiing (some already do, we can capitalize that, and encourage more to come.) But so can Emiratis; the UAE is another potential market. Why ski indoors in Dubai, when you can ski outdoors in Greece, with gorgeous views, and it's much cheaper and a little closer than the Alps?

oops double post.

;14191005']I see it in Australia too...the only place I have seen Greece advertised is on ANT1 Pacific. Why?!
The commercial plays hourly at least. We know what Greece is like...instead put it on a commercial Australian channel so they will realise the beauty of Greece too!


Georgos

I've seen the advert played on ERT World and MAD World Channels in Australia. I agree it should be played on the Commercial and Government Channels in Australia....

EOT continues to ignore Australia as a viable tourist market and instead continues to advertise heavily in the already saturated and competitive European, and North American markets.

Well,we do not want to lose our grip on the european tourist market,do we?I just wished EOT would find a smarter and more effective way of advertising.

Well I saw last week the greek tourism spot a couple of times on CNN.
If somebody watches often other broadcasters thats another matter.--

EOT continues to ignore Australia as a viable tourist market and instead continues to advertise heavily in the already saturated and competitive European, and North American markets.

Indeed they do ignore Australia however instead of showing the ad on ANT1 Pacific (which is mainly for Australians) they could easily pay a bit of money and get it shown at prime time or at least on the Travel Channel on cable TV.

Maybe they don't show that ad by the GNTO on mainstream Australian television, but Greece is always featured on Australian travel shows, such as Getaway and The Great Outdoors. In fact the three most popular destinations for Australians in Europe, according to a Getaway poll are: Paris, Tuscany and Santorini.

Anyway, Greece's primary tourist market is in Europe: Germany, Britain, France and Italy and that's where they should be advertising. Most Americans spend their holidays at home and Australians are amongst the world's most intrepid travellers, along with Germans and most of them have 'done' Greece. Greek-Australians are a large target market for Greek tourism. Many have summer homes in Greece or ancestral homes where they stay during the holiday season and that's why you see ads by the GNTO on Greek sattelite TV in Australia. Greek tourism should try to target new and emerging tourism markets in China, India and Russia.

China has already singled Greece out as its favourite destination!

Also, I think that advertising prime time in the US or Canada, risks creating the impression of a country that badly needs tourism (and in turn, creating the impression of an unappealing place), which we all know is not the case with Greece. So you don't want to over-advertise, particularly not in the USA and Canada, where people don't know much about Greece. In nearby countries, however (European and Middle East countries), people know more about Greece, they are well aware that it's a major tourist draw, so EOT doesn't face this risk when it comes to European and Middle Eastern markets.

As was previously said, most of the advertising should be aimed at Europe (Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Hungary, Romania, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, etc) and the Middle East (Israel, UAE, maybe Kuwait and Qatar)..not so much East Asia (Japan, China, South Korea), Australia, or the Americas (USA, Canada, Brazil). We want to keep the western Europeans. And we want to encourage more eastern Europeans (whose numbers ore growing) and Middle Easterners (Israel + Gulf countries).

;14207878']China has already singled Greece out as its favourite destination!

I question the validity of this. It floats around in the media, but what was it exactly? Was it a market research poll? Does anyone have a link?

Maybe they don't show that ad by the GNTO on mainstream Australian television, but Greece is always featured on Australian travel shows, such as Getaway and The Great Outdoors.

Probably the most effective way to advertise to countries such as Australia, the USA, and Canada.

There's a travel show called Globetrekker in the USA and Canada (which I think they also broadcast in Britain and Australia). In the USA it's on the Travel Channel, and one of the episodes was "Greek Islands." From memory, they went to: Hydra, Crete, Mykonos, and Gavdos (I'm pretty sure they went to Santorini too, but I don't remember), with host Megan McCormick.

There's another show in the USA and Canada called Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown, and each episode focuses on a specific city, region, or island in Europe. The ones that took place in Greece were: Athens, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini. Samantha Brown also did a cruise special episode, which was a Mediterranean cruise that started from Barcelona in Spain, and then went through France, Italy, Croatia, and the final destination was Corfu in Greece.

Rather than overt prime time television ads (which I think are a bad idea), EOT should seek this type of indirect advertisement, by encouraging travel-show producers to film episodes featuring destinations in Greece (especialy locations outside of the Cyclades).

The key should be subtlety, in my opinion.

On a final note, does anyone know about any market research work done for EOT prior to the advertising campaign? I think this would be very useful information to the discussion.

Also, I think that advertising prime time in the US or Canada, risks creating the impression of a country that badly needs tourism (and in turn, creating the impression of an unappealing place), which we all know is not the case with Greece. So you don't want to over-advertise, particularly not in the USA and Canada, where people don't know much about Greece. In nearby countries, however (European and Middle East countries), people know more about Greece, they are well aware that it's a major tourist draw, so EOT doesn't face this risk when it comes to European and Middle Eastern markets.

As was previously said, most of the advertising should be aimed at Europe (Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Hungary, Romania, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, etc) and the Middle East (Israel, UAE, maybe Kuwait and Qatar)..not so much East Asia (Japan, China, South Korea), Australia, or the Americas (USA, Canada, Brazil). We want to keep the western Europeans. And we want to encourage more eastern Europeans (whose numbers ore growing) and Middle Easterners (Israel + Gulf countries).



I question the validity of this. It floats around in the media, but what was it exactly? Was it a market research poll? Does anyone have a link?



Probably the most effective way to advertise to countries such as Australia, the USA, and Canada.

There's a travel show called Globetrekker in the USA and Canada (which I think they also broadcast in Britain and Australia). In the USA it's on the Travel Channel, and one of the episodes was "Greek Islands." From memory, they went to: Hydra, Crete, Mykonos, and Gavdos (I'm pretty sure they went to Santorini too, but I don't remember), with host Megan McCormick.

There's another show in the USA and Canada called Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown, and each episode focuses on a specific city, region, or island in Europe. The ones that took place in Greece were: Athens, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini. Samantha Brown also did a cruise special episode, which was a Mediterranean cruise that started from Barcelona in Spain, and then went through France, Italy, Croatia, and the final destination was Corfu in Greece.

Rather than overt prime time television ads (which I think are a bad idea), EOT should seek this type of indirect advertisement, by encouraging travel-show producers to film episodes featuring destinations in Greece (especialy locations outside of the Cyclades).

The key should be subtlety, in my opinion.

On a final note, does anyone know about any market research work done for EOT prior to the advertising campaign? I think this would be very useful information to the discussion.

For the China thing, as I understand the government approves a certain list of countries in which chineese are 'encoraged' to go as they are deemed safe or something like that. And Greece comes up as the most popular destination for them. In September, flights start between China and Greece.

As for advertisement in North America, I really do think they should go into prime time. Going on travel channels helps too for those that are watching them, but I think that Greece should try to recruit new and different tourists to come. I dont think it would come off as "desperate for tourism". There is alot of travel interst to Greece from the US now and it is evident from flights started to Athens from the US this year. There is news also that there will be flights from Chicago (connecting in Canada or JFK) next year. Delta already markets LAX-JFK-ATH route starting this year. And possible rumor of United Airlines starting Washington DC - Greece. With all these airlines out there, prices will go down alittle. If im not mistaken, tourism has been rising in Greece each year steadily. Why not try to lure in new people by advertising at different events other than CNN and travel channels?

Looking at the official data about tourism in Greece in 2006, I was surprised to see that out of the 17,283,910 tourists, 1,591,688 were Albanians! I wonder how many Swiss admirals there are in the world :).

Tourists from the US or Australia visiting Greece are coming a long ways. Most casual tourists looking for a little sun, beaches and the like are NOT going to fly to Greece from those nations. There are too many closer venues that offer the same thing for lower cost.

US tourists who travel to Greece are going to be:

1. Greek Americans with a famly connection.

2. Seasoned travellers looking for a new spot to explore.

And that's how the Greek tourist industry spends their marketting money, to attract those two clientele. I agree with their approach, and also how they do it in Australia. They don't have unlimited funds, so they target their markets.

The majority of tourists to Greece are going to continue to be from Central and northern Europe. That's where they need to spend their marketting dollars the most. And they need to market Greece as a SAFE alternative to other Mediterranean venues, like Turkey.

Tourists from the US or Australia visiting Greece are coming a long ways. Most casual tourists looking for a little sun, beaches and the like are NOT going to fly to Greece from those nations. There are too many closer venues that offer the same thing for lower cost.

US tourists who travel to Greece are going to be:

1. Greek Americans with a famly connection.

2. Seasoned travellers looking for a new spot to explore.

And that's how the Greek tourist industry spends their marketting money, to attract those two clientele. I agree with their approach, and also how they do it in Australia. They don't have unlimited funds, so they target their markets.

The majority of tourists to Greece are going to continue to be from Central and northern Europe. That's where they need to spend their marketting dollars the most. And they need to market Greece as a SAFE alternative to other Mediterranean venues, like Turkey.

Anyway you can't compare America or Canada with Australia as the former ones are 1/3 of distance from Greece than the later ;)

That's true, but Aussies love to travel. For some reason I always run into a lot of them on vacation. I'm in Florida now and have met a fair amount of Aussies. Same thing when I'm in Greece.

Actually, it's amazing the amount of foreign employees there are at the Florida tourist spots. Been down here a week and have run into lotsa Czechs, Brazilians, Ukranians, Cayman Islanders, and more than a few from various middle eastern nations, India, and so on. I guess the locals don't impress with their work ethic or something, so they end up hiring foreigners. Have to admit many of the locals are worthless, if you know which ones I mean! :ohno:

For the China thing, as I understand the government approves a certain list of countries in which chineese are 'encoraged' to go as they are deemed safe or something like that. And Greece comes up as the most popular destination for them. In September, flights start between China and Greece.

We'll see how that goes. But I don't think the new Greece-China flights have anything to do with tourism.

From what I understand, these will be Air China flights from ATH to PEK via DXB...these flights will be year-round and not seasonal, and will be twice weekly....it doesn't look like a leisure route to me; a leisure route would be seasonal. Plus, only a miniscule number of Chinese tourists visited Greece in 2006.

This new flight looks like a mostly business route that will capitalize on traffic between ATH and DXB, as well as DXB-PEK and PEK-ATH. It also looks like Air China can offer connecting flights at PEK onwards to ICN, HKG, PDG, NRT, KIX, and so on, for passengers originating at ATH and DXB...thus it looks like mostly a business route, not a leisure one. But I could be wrong.

Tourists from the US or Australia visiting Greece are coming a long ways. Most casual tourists looking for a little sun, beaches and the like are NOT going to fly to Greece from those nations. There are too many closer venues that offer the same thing for lower cost.

Exactly.

Americans --> Florida (winter), Texas (winter), Carribean (winter), Mexico (winter or summer), Central America (winter), California (summer), Carolinas (summer), New England (summer)

Canadians --> Florida (winter), Carribean (winter), Mexico (winter or summer), Central America (winter), California (summer), Maritimes (summer), Cuba (winter)

Australians --> Australia itself, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Pacfic, New Zealand....


US tourists who travel to Greece are going to be:

1. Greek Americans with a famly connection.

2. Seasoned travellers looking for a new spot to explore.

And

3. Americans doing a wider tour of Europe


And that's how the Greek tourist industry spends their marketting money, to attract those two clientele. I agree with their approach, and also how they do it in Australia. They don't have unlimited funds, so they target their markets.

Exactly


The majority of tourists to Greece are going to continue to be from Central and northern Europe.

Southern Europe (Italy and France) also provide a lot of tourists, with Italy and France in the top 5 countries that sent tourists to Greece in 2006. Eastern Europe also has potential, with a rapidly growing number of Russians. Israelis are also a growing market for Greece.

We'll see how that goes. But I don't think the new Greece-China flights have anything to do with tourism.

From what I understand, these will be Air China flights from ATH to PEK via DXB...these flights will be year-round and not seasonal, and will be twice weekly....it doesn't look like a leisure route to me; a leisure route would be seasonal. Plus, only a miniscule number of Chinese tourists visited Greece in 2006.

This new flight looks like a mostly business route that will capitalize on traffic between ATH and DXB, as well as DXB-PEK and PEK-ATH. It also looks like Air China can offer connecting flights at PEK onwards to ICN, HKG, PDG, NRT, KIX, and so on, for passengers originating at ATH and DXB...thus it looks like mostly a business route, not a leisure one. But I could be wrong.

If I remember correctly though, the deal was done by the govermnet, but I also remember that one of the big things in it was that they (Air China) have the option to get rid of Dubai and do non stop ATH-China if the route goes well.

Anyway, has anyone here ever been to the 'tourists' spots in Athens in the summer? Its filled with Asians......I actually remember watching "Pio Poli Tin Kiriaki' via satellite last month, and the host got on a ship for some trip with the camera, and it was FILLED with Asian tourist. He made the smart comment "Are you sure this ship isnt going to Osaka?" :nuts:

There was also news last fall that Olympic was going to start sponsered China flight. I think they even applied for the route.

Japanese tourists have been coming to Greece in greater and greater numbers. Greece has a good image in Japan as a hospitable, clean and friendly nation. Also, Greek companies have bought many large merchant ships from Japanese companies, so Greece is getting a lot of good publicity in Japan right now. I know, because I go to Japan on business 6-8 times every year.

China is following suit. There is more money in China now and the people want to get out and see the world. They're especially interested in Greece after the last Olympic Games. Greek companies also buy many ships from Chinese companies, so Greece is well known.

The majority of tourists will still come from Europe, but Greece can not afford to ignore affluent tourists from the far east. They're a fringe market and they DO spend money.

If I remember correctly though, the deal was done by the govermnet, but I also remember that one of the big things in it was that they (Air China) have the option to get rid of Dubai and do non stop ATH-China if the route goes well.



Governments must give clearance for new international routes, unless there is some type of "open skies" agreement between the involved coutries. That might be why the Greek and Chinese governments were involved; especially if there were never any direct PEK-ATH flights before. There already are direct DXB-PEK and DXB-ATH flights (although the added Air China routes may have also needed clearance from the UAE government), but the two governments had to work out the bureacratic techicalities should Air China decide to make it a direct ATH-PEK flight in the future. It's not yet certain that there will be demand for a direct flight, so it looks like Air China is testing the possible PEK-ATH market through a safe route: by using PEK-DXB and ATH-DXB passengers as a safety net.

I don't know, man. I wish www.statistics.gr would list the number of tourists who arrived in 2006 form the People's Republic of China. The total for Asia was about 564.000: about 50.000 from Japan, only 174 from Iran, 139.000 from Israel, 25.000 from Lebanon and Syria combined, 180.000 from Turkey (which is included in Asia by the agency), 12.000 from the "rest of the Middle East," and 155.000 from the "rest of Asia," whatever that may be. Those 155.000 tourists from the "rest of Asia" can include Malaysians, Koreans, Taiwanese, and South Asians. I have a hunch that most of the East Asian tourists you run into are either Japanese, Taiwanese, or Korean; although I'm sure that a rather significant -and growing- chunk are mainland Chinese and/or Hong Kong'ers.

It's kind of hard to decipher this rather limited information, but it's also possible Air China is hoping to capitalize on Japanese and Korean tourists (as well as business travelers) headed for Greece, from Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, etc, via Beijing. If we think about it, to date, there is no direct flight from Greece to any city in northeast Asia, so Air China is taking the opportunity to fill this void.

Governments must give clearance for new international routes, unless there is some type of "open skies" agreement between the involved coutries. That might be why the Greek and Chinese governments were involved; especially if there were never any direct PEK-ATH flights before. There already are direct DXB-PEK and DXB-ATH flights (although the added Air China routes may have also needed clearance from the UAE government), but the two governments had to work out the bureacratic techicalities should Air China decide to make it a direct ATH-PEK flight in the future. It's not yet certain that there will be demand for a direct flight, so it looks like Air China is testing the possible PEK-ATH market through a safe route: by using PEK-DXB and ATH-DXB passengers as a safety net.

We will just wait and see I guess. But about needing clearance from UAE, as I understand it any one is free to fly there. I am still curious to what will happen to direct ATH - China routes by Olympic. Also in the fall, Olympic had advertisements for Air China on their website advertising something like a code share.....hmm.

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Eπένδυση - «μαμούθ» 11 δισ. δολ. για τη δημιουργία κολοσσιαίου συγκροτήματος ξενοδοχείων και καζίνο προτείνει στην κυβέρνηση ο Aμερικανός μεγιστάνας Sheldon Adelson και ήδη το Ελληνικό Κέντρο Επενδύσεων αναζητεί την ιδανικότερη περιοχή για την υποδοχή του εγχειρήματος.
Ο 6ος πλουσιότερος επιχειρηματίας στον κόσμο πρότεινε, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, σε μέλη της κυβέρνησης την ανάδειξη του πρώην αεροδρομίου Eλληνικού σε πόλο ανάπτυξης επιχειρήσεων καζίνο και αναψυχής με στόχο της προσέλκυση 7 - 8 εκατ. τουριστών ετησίως, προερχομένων κυρίως από την Ευρώπη. Μάλιστα ως «δέλεαρ» για την αποδοχή της πρότασής του ο κ. Adelson επικαλέσθηκε την προοπτική δημιουργίας δεκάδων χιλιάδων νέων θέσεων εργασίας, ικανών να απορροφήσουν σημαντικό μέρος της ανεργίας.

Σύμφωνα με τις ίδιες πληροφορίες, κυβερνητικοί αξιωματούχοι εξετάζουν με ενδιαφέρον την πρόταση, προτείνουν ωστόσο άλλες περιοχές, που δεν έχουν πολεοδομικούς περιορισμούς και δεν κρύβουν κινδύνους αντιδράσεων της κοινής γνώμης. Πάντως, ως πλέον ενδεδειγμένη λύση, χωρίς να αποκλείονται και άλλες πρόσφορες περιοχές, το ΕΛΚΕ προτείνει τον νομό Ηρακλείου.

http://www.express.gr/index.php?selida_id=102&article=93237&categ=2&lang_id=1&PHPSESSID=34e927dc1839c7424e2ff79fa1643f19

That is a very lucrative offer! New work places and more tourists will certaintly boost the economy but the government needs to make sure that the casinos and the hotel complex do not raise crime, poverty and harm the enviroment of the populace in that specific area.

Locking the tourists out
Going on strike means abstaining from work. Unless we are talking about Greece. For here, it can also mean picketing outside the entrance to an archaeological site. Guards here do not just go on strike, which, after all, is their right. No, they prevent thousands of tourists from all over the world from visiting the Parthenon, a monument of global cultural heritage.

Sure, we must protect our ancient treasures. But this should not be undertaken by public sector employees, let alone the seasonally employed who seek permanent status. It could be entrusted to private firms, which would most probably be more economical and effective; firms that could also spare us the recurring summer embarrassment. A private company will either honor its contract or quit. It will never lock tourists out. The Culture Ministry must not be fettered by dogma. It must explore all the alternatives and protect Greece from future humiliation. - Kathimerini

At the height of the tourism season mind you...

"Η αύξηση στην τουριστική κίνηση φέτος είναι της τάξεως του 9%, όπως δήλωσε στο ραδιόφωνο της ΝΕΤ η κ. Πετραλιά. "

http://news.ert.gr/c/7/328425.asp

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070719/greece_tourism.html?.v=1


Greece Tourism Growth Predicted
Thursday July 19, 2:21 pm ET

Greek Tourism Industry Reports Traffic Increase

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- The number of tourists arriving in Greece rose 5.95 in the first half of 2007, compared with a year earlier, suggesting a third successive year of growth, the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises said Thursday.

"If the rate of growth remains through the end of the year, Greek tourism over the period 2004-2007 will have recorded a 24-percent cumulative increase in tourism arrivals," said Stavros Andreadis, chairman of the association.

"That is a spectacular result," he said. "And it shows that the growth potential is enormous."

Greece last year attracted nearly 16 million tourists, who spent an estimated 12 billion euros ($16.6 billion), the association said.

I don't understand...what is the actual number of tourist arrivals last year? Is it 16 million or 18 million?

;14363195']I don't understand...what is the actual number of tourist arrivals last year? Is it 16 million or 18 million?

No, 17,200,000 according to EOT

Από Εθνική Στατιστική Υπηρεσία της Ελλάδος
www.statistics.gr

αφίξεις τουριστών / tourist arrivals

2006: 17.283.910
2005: 15.449.133
2004: 14.267.420
2003: 14.784.560
2002: 14.918.177
2001: 14.678.688
2000: 13.567.453
1999: 12.605.928

Articles that say "nearly 16 million" were written before the official figure for 2006 was released, and they used preliminary figures for their estimate.

In order to be fair we have to subtract from the numbers for 2006 about 1.5 million Albanians who register as tourists, while they are immigrants, because they have no other way to come back to Greece after visiting their home.

So, they apply for tourist visas in order to work under the table in Greece?

So, they apply for tourist visas in order to work under the table in Greece?

Most of them already live here. When they go to Albania for a short while to see their families, there is no other legal way for them to come back than getting a tourist visa! Some years ago there was a Greek expression: “A Swiss admiral, an Albanian tourist and xxx”, where xxx stands for a very rare person or phenomenon. Now it seems that we have to revise it!

So, those who do that are acting ilegally from the very first minute they put feet on Greek soil, so they should be deported just for that with a reentrance restriction of 10 years as they do in America. Oh rangers of Texas, where are you guys?

Oi alvanoi den pernoune ta aeroplana gia na erthoun stin Ellada.

Most of them already live here. When they go to Albania for a short while to see their families, there is no other legal way for them to come back than getting a tourist visa! Some years ago there was a Greek expression: “A Swiss admiral, an Albanian tourist and xxx”, where xxx stands for a very rare person or phenomenon. Now it seems that we have to revise it!


That's not how they count tourists.

Most tourists who visit Greece come from countries that do not need a visa for Greece (which includes all EU countries). Thus, you can't determine the number of tourists who visited the country by counting tourist visas.

Nor do they count people at the border.

Many people come without passport control (Schengen agreement).

The way they count tourists is from hotel stays and cruises. This is standard international practice. (Hotels always ask for identification: national ID card, passport, etc, and they submit that information to their governments.)

Thus, Albanians already living in Greece do not get counted.

Same goes with Turkish diaspora living in Germany, who drive through Austria, Italy, and Greece when they go back to visit their homeland. If they drive straight through Greece without stopping and without staying at a hotel, they are not counted as tourists. Those who are counted, are the ones who stayed in Greece overnight for at least one night.

Thus 17.283.910 figure is highly accurate.

Now, they do know the method of arrival for tourists. What they probably do is, I'm guessing they compile statistics on people who arrive by air, ferry, train, or automobile, and compare these figures to hotel-stays.

It's great to see the continued growth in tourism. Hopefully it continues and grows even more. I will be traveling to beautiful Rodos and Kos in just over a week, and am really looking forward to it...I have been to both islands before and they are truly beautiful. I will try and get some pics up when I return :)

One question: have there been any reports of cancellations or tourists leaving from areas that have been, unfortunately, affected by the recent forest fires? Most notably Skiathos. I read the Greece forums over on Tripadvisor regularly and a lot of tourists who were planning on traveling there are expressing concerns, though, fortunately, people who are from there or who have been there recently are advising them to not cancel their plans and visit Skiathos, as most hotels and obviously the beautiful beaches were unaffected.

I SWEAR I had seen this article posted on this site earlier. I think I even responded to it. Can't find it now though. Here it is:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/19/ap3932441.html

Greece Tourism Growth Predicted
Associated Press 07.19.07, 2:21 PM ET

ATHENS, Greece -

The number of tourists arriving in Greece rose 5.95 in the first half of 2007, compared with a year earlier, suggesting a third successive year of growth, the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises said Thursday.

"If the rate of growth remains through the end of the year, Greek tourism over the period 2004-2007 will have recorded a 24-percent cumulative increase in tourism arrivals," said Stavros Andreadis, chairman of the association.

"That is a spectacular result," he said. "And it shows that the growth potential is enormous."

Greece last year attracted nearly 16 million tourists, who spent an estimated 12 billion euros ($16.6 billion), the association said.

So if it is in fact 24% more tourism this year, then the number would rise from 16 million to around 20 million for 2007!

BTW, I thought Greece had 17 million last year....??

Great news. This is a major source of revenue for Greek businesses. And tourism is a "clean industry", not like low-end manufacturing with it's generation of toxic wastes.

But with tourism you can't get complacent. You need to invest in infrastructure, new hotels, transportation and marketting. You need to attract the tourist who is going to spend a lot of money, not just folks looking for a low-cost holiday.

It will take smart and aggressive people in the Greek tourist business leadership, both within government and in the private sector to keep this growth going.

So if it is in fact 24% more tourism this year, then the number would rise from 16 million to around 20 million for 2007!

BTW, I thought Greece had 17 million last year....??

No. That is a 24% rise since 2004...not a 24% rise over the 2006 figure.
Not very happy with that figure.

BTW, the article you just posted was posted yesterday...look about 10 posts back.

;14373890']No. That is a 24% rise since 2004...not a 24% rise over the 2006 figure.
Not very happy with that figure.

BTW, the article you just posted was posted yesterday...look about 10 posts back.

lol. I knew I had saw it. But I was trying to find it last night, but nothing. :bash:

And woops about the 24 percent.... :nuts:

Hey, if we can grow Greek tourism by 6-7% every year, we're in a GREAT situation. That's stupendous growth, if maintained. :banana:

Hey, if we can grow Greek tourism by 6-7% every year, we're in a GREAT situation. That's stupendous growth, if maintained. :banana:

I'm sure tourists will arrive in droves to see greece's wonderful burnt fir and pine forests...........:ohno:

Maybe they'll come to see you perform the crying scene out of "Pagliacci"?

:lol:

Maybe they'll come to see you perform the crying scene out of "Pagliacci"?

:lol:

Sodnal how did you know I had a passion for Opera ?

LOL. Good comeback.

I'm just funning with you, Nicholas. I'm really upset about the forests as well, but what can you do? Just pick up, try to reforest as best you can and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Maybe it's because I'm older than many on this board (I'm 52), but I've seen so many of these type of tragedies over the years. Nature always finds a way to rebuild what man has destroyed. Nature is much more powerful than mankind will ever be-it will take time, but the forests will return.

Even the nature caused massive devestation of Mt. St. Helens in the US is almost completely "repaired". 25 years after it happened-it took time, but it all came back. In fact, the ground is more fertile now with the volcanic ash and in some ways it's revitalized the area.

Sodnal, there's no harm in having a bit of fun. :)
Hopefully, the greek state will be better prepared next summer...

Anyway, getting the conversation back to tourism for a moment, it looks like Olympic Airlines is going to finally institute e-tickets starting next month in most of its major destinations.

A few months ago, EDS won the competitive bid for implementing Olympics e-ticketing system over Sabre and a few other competitors, and I have been hearing that the system will start being implemented this August. Olympic and other airlines had until 1/1/2008 to comply with IATA regulations regarding the implementation of e-ticketing. An article on the topic is here: http://www.capital.gr/news.asp?Details=254082

Olympic Airlines' website has also been updated a bit, but is still under development...I'm noticing new features being added slowly every few days. Presumably, once implementation of e-ticketing is complete, it will work seamlessly for ticket purchases through the website (currently, your tickets are made available for you at the airport or at OA Offices).

So it looks like the era of the paper ticket at Olympic is slowly and finally coming to an end. Hopefully the new ease of booking will help Olympic's fortunes and even give a little additional boost to tourism :)

An announcement from AirSea lines. The company's flights in the Aegean have been temporarily suspended:

Dear AirSea Lines / Pegasus Aviation Customers,

AirSea lines / Pegasus continues to develop its flight services in Greece and is working diligently to provide reliable service to all areas. Due however to unexpected delays in the delivery of our new aircraft, we are obligated to temporarily suspend our services in the Aegean region.

These delays and resulting schedule changes are caused in part, by newly created EASA regulations that require enhanced avionics equipment to be installed in our aircraft that were not necessary until recently. While ASL/Pegasus is pleased to undertake these expensive but state of the art installations however they have resulted in the arrival of our additional aircraft being delayed.

This is a significant and regrettable inconvenience to the Company, our trade partners and most importantly, our customers. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this unfortunate situation may cause however the final result will be improved safety and reliability that have always been our primary objectives.

Upon the arrival of our new aircraft we will deploy them in the Aegean region and resume service immediately. Until such time the two upgraded aircraft we are operating are being utilized in the Ionian region to meet our obligations there. Please note that Ionian scheduled flights begin on the 3rd of August.

A limited service schedule for the Ionian region is available on our website. Tickets can be purchased on line or by calling 801 11 800 600

Please monitor the site for updates and increased schedule frequency in the coming weeks. For more information contact us at (+30) 210 940 2880 or 801 11 800 600.

Again we apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to increasing flight service to our Ionian and Aegean destinations within a few short weeks.

Προβλέψεις για αύξηση 10% της τουριστικής κίνησης

Το Μέγαρο Μαξίμου επισκέφτηκε χτες η υπουργός Τουριστικής Ανάπτυξης, κα Φάνη Πάλλη - Πετραλιά, προκειμένου να ενημερώσει τον Πρωθυπουργό, κ. Κώστα Καραμανλή, για την πορεία της τουριστικής κίνησης στη χώρα μας. Όπως ανέφερε μάλιστα χαρακτηριστικά, "η αύξηση θα αγγίξει το 10% σε σχέση με πέρυσι. Πέρυσι, είχαμε περίπου 15,5 εκατ. επισκέπτες. Φέτος, όπως καταλαβαίνετε, οι επισκέπτες θα ξεπεράσουν κατά πολύ τα 16 εκατ. Και βέβαια να πω ότι παράλληλα έχουμε για φέτος, μέχρι αυτή τη στιγμή που μιλάμε, μια αύξηση του τουριστικού συναλλάγματος, της τάξης του 9%. Να θυμίσω, επίσης, ότι το τουριστικό συνάλλαγμα ήταν πέρυσι 14,7 δισ. ευρώ". ...

http://www.traveldailynews.gr/new.asp?newid=38718&subcategory_id=45

Despite the fires and the year not over yet:

Record Year for Tourism

08 Sep 2007 14:26:00
By Dimitris Alexopoulos

"Greece is one of the safest countries of the world for someone to spend his holidays," stressed Minister of Tourism Fani Palli Petralia at the inauguration of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair on Saturday. Ms Petralia described 2007 a record year for Greek tourism, as 17million tourists had visited Greece and the flow of foreign currency per month amounted to over €1billion. She also added that the recent fires had not affected the flow of tourists to Greece, as Greece’s profile as a tourist destination had been carefully hammered and still remains high. The minister also reported that the new season’s objectives remain high, hoping that the new tourist season will as good as last year’s. "We shall be ready to break this year’s record," she stressed. The Ministry of Tourism stall hosts wax models of three great politicians of modern Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos, Konstantine Karamanlis and Andreas Papandreou. - ERT News

Incredible!!

The fires will have an impact next summer unfortunately.

WTTC confirms Greece`s tourism good pace
Friday, September 07, 2007

There will be no decline in reservations to Greece neither in winter nor in the next summer from tour operators or from the cruise sector said Mr. Jean Claude Baumgarten, President of the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC) after his quick visit to Greece on 6th September.

Mr. Baumgarten met with the Greek Minister of Tourism Development Ms. Fani Petralia where they had the chance to analyze the course of Greece’s tourism. “I am here (Greece) for a short only visit,” stated Mr. Baumgarten.

“You all know WTTC and as his president I took the initiative to visit Greece. We have worked a lot with Greece during the last two years and we are in the phase of conducting a new report so we are extremely aware of the country. I considered visiting Greece in order to transfer the feeling of the international tourism industry for Greece,” added Baumgarten.

“WTTC has faced many bad situations in many regions around the world. What I can definitely say as far as WTTC is concerned is that we haven’t witnessed any negative impact for Greece for the coming winter and summer.”

Mr. Baumgarten assured Greek tourism authorities that Greece will enjoy a part of the tourism development that the industry is going to experience in the future. “Greece will be able to enjoy all the promotional efforts authorities undertook for the country during the previous years,” as WTTC`s President stressed.

Mr. Baumgarten also said that there is no negative feeling for the country, travellers would like to visit Greece and there is a steady number in reservations.

“I would like personally to come to Greece and give this message which is very important and Greece must grab this opportunity as after all the difficulties the country has faced, travellers want still to visit the country.”

“We have a Research Center in Oxford which is essential in giving the right factors in the models we implement to make our predictions for the future. These factors may affect traffic and future developments. We noted that there are no changes for Greece. There will be not need to adjust our models and we estimate that Greece will have a 4% to 5% increase in demand.” “I am very glad with Mr. Baumgarten’s visit in Greece. The tourist flow runs smoothly and Greece is always a safe country and an attracting tourism destination as WTTC witnesses,” said the Greek Minister of Tourism Developement Ms. Fani Petralia.

“Greece is safe and modern. That’s the feeling of the international tourism community and no one should doubt this. Greece is on the top of the list of the international visitors and this is not by chance. It is a unique place and our coordinated efforts in the tourism sector have bare fruits,” added Minister.

“2007 is a record year for Greece in tourism arrivals and revenues. More than 17 million visitors will have visited our country until the end of the year. We are already working to break this year’s record in 2008. I thank Mr. Baumgarten for his visit,” concluded Ms. Petralia.

Michael Verikios - Friday, September 07, 2007
http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=39440&subcategory_id=95

Fires won't have a huge impact... Fires are not something that keep people from traveling, especially since it is fairly common in med. countries. Granted not on this scale, but tourists if they even payed attention probably are not scared by it. And except for Athens/Olympia, no big tourist destinations were effected.

I don't think it will have any huge impact next year, it will be long forgotton by then. (by tourists, not by the Greeks and the ones truly effected ofcourse...)

Perhaps we can turn the recent fire disaster into a postive by:-

Organising mass planting days that involve backpackers and all the other visitors to greece. This would surely receive very positive media coverage, especially in the more environmentally conscious west and northern europe.

Secondly, just imagine the world interest that could be generated if it was announced that the fire damaged hill-top villages would be reconstructed in their traditional vernacular but also incorporate ecollogically sustainable measures to reduce water, power and carbon footprint. This would certainly generate very favourable coverage as a 'feel good story' and receive widespread aclaim in architectural and academic circles.

Just some thoughts......

^^ good thoughts...

I saw a news report of young British and Dutch people doing volunteer work in Greece looking after the turtles that have been injured...these sore of initiatives can extend to other areas.

Well its not a new year yet, but it looks like the 2008 Advertising Campaign for Greece is in the process of coming out.

So I decided to make a new thread for 2008, following the example by "Prometheus" and the "2007 Tourism news + info" thread at http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=433635&highlight=Greek+Advertising+Campaign+2007

So post all 2008 related tourism news and info and campaigns for Greece here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://www.visitgreece.gr/:

This years slogan seems to be "The True Experience".

PRESS
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6227/nauticalvi4.jpg
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1527/seasidera0.jpg
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8505/culturekj8.jpg/IMG]

LANDSCAPES
[IMG]http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7358/culturelec6.jpg
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/706/seasidelfa2.jpg