December 2003

Making a new Start ?
Greece's tourism sector is making a new start in the new year - literally. In December, Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos announced the appointment of two new faces in key posts for tourism policy: Nikos Dimadis in the place of Yiannis Patellis as the head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) and Konstantinos Botopoulos as General Secretary for Tourism, a post at the Development Ministry that had been held by Dimitris Georgarakis. The two new officials bring a wide range of expertise to their posts and a fresh perspective. Both have international experience, which in Mr Dimadis's case, includes service in diplomatic posts. This global dimension is vital for officials whose job is - to a degree - to shape Greece's image abroad.
Some representatives of the travel sector and some opposition politicians have criticized the government's decision to switch horses in the middle of the race, as the saying goes. The race, of course, is the countdown to the 2004 Olympic Games - the single most important event for Greek tourism and, by extension the Greek economy, in the last four decades. Dimadis and Botopoulos will need to the hit the ground running just to keep up with the policies put into place by their predecessors, never mind adding their own touch. Theirs is a difficult path; if Greece's tourism policies fail to take full advantage of the 2004 Olympics to bolster this vital sector of the economy, they will be charged by the failure and if Greece succeeds, they will share the credit for this achievement. But in the face of such a crucial challenge for Greece's tourism sector, this is not the time for seeking credit or apportioning blame. It is a time for everyone to pull together so Greece can put its best face forward so the rest of the world can bask, once again, in the glory that is Greece.

Building New Bridges between East and West.

The war in Iraq has had a profound effect on the tourism sector globally. Its most obvious effect was a decline in bookings, especially early in 2003, as a result of the uncertainty created by what was then the inevitability of the impending war. Now, almost a year later, its other effects are becoming more noticeable, among them a deepening of the divide between East and West. In mid-December, the president of Syria visited Greece in hopes of building new bridges between East and West. One area in which Syria seeks to build such bridges is in the area of tourism, which was the focus of a tourism forum addressed by Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos.
Although tourism has been one of the first casualties in times of strife and conflict, foreign travel has been one an important means of establishing and deepening ties between different peoples throughout history. Aside from being an industry, tourism is about peaceful exchange and interaction, about experiencing and enjoying different cultures. Syria has extended a hand of friendship to Greece and Greece has reciprocated by signing a cooperation protocol that opens the way for private sector initiatives aimed at furthering tourism exchanges and, ultimately, mutual respect and understanding between East and West.

From all of us at Travelling, our most heartfelt wishes for
a Happy New Year and may 2004 bring health, happiness,
peace, and prosperity to all.

Hellenic Travelling

New name for Greece’s National Carrier
Olympic Airways has been renamed Olympic Airlines as part of a plan to restructure Greece's national carrier aimed at attracting private investors.
The new Olympic Airlines is a leaner company that only deals with passenger and cargo flights. The relaunch aimed at relieving the airline of enormous debts and trimming its sizeable staff - two elements that had been obstacles in previous attempts to privatize the Greek carrier.
The company's division that handles ground services has remained under the Olympic Airways banner and will remain in control of the Greek state.
Olympic Airways was founded in the late 1950s by the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Its logo, which features five rings, will be retained by Olympic Airlines.
The European Commission must approve the restructuring.

ΕΟΤ prepares for opening Chinese market
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) has produced special promotional film aimed at Chinese tourists. The film will be available on video and DVD, ΕΟΤ said in a statement.
The audio-visual promotional follows a lavish photographic album produced for Chinese audiences as part of ΕΟΤ's campaign to penetrate the Chinese travel market.

Nikos Dimadis named new head of ΕΟΤ
Nikos Dimadis, a former ambassador of Greece to the European Community and Venezuela, has been named as the new president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), replacing Yiannis Patellis, the Development Ministry said in a statement.
Dimadis was born in Thessaloniki in 1940 and is a graduate of the University of Thessaloniki School of Law, with graduate studies in economics in France. He has held several government posts, including that of General Secretary for Hellenism Abroad, special advisor on public relations to the Defence Ministry, and chairman of the southern Europe multinational peacekeeping force's (MPFSEE) politico-military committee (PMSC).
During the handover ceremonies, Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos said the Greek tourism sector had survived the difficult 2001-2002 seasons and the first five months of 2003 virtually unscathed and had retained its vitality ahead of 2004-2005, "a two-year period of rebound because Greek tourism will be reinforced by the 2004 Olympic Games but also from the general improvement forecast by the World Tourism Organization."
Tsohadzopoulos said that ΕΟΤ would need to support new interventions and changes to be introduced immediately, such as the operation of the ΕΟΤ subsidiary that will be responsible for marketing in Europe. He also cited the cooperation between ΕΟΤ and the private sector aimed at preparing the tourism industry for the increased competitiveness in tourism.
"ΕΟΤ's responsibility will be in the area of utilizing new technological structures that we want to create for monitoring the sector's economic development and the tourism market as a whole so that we can have a continuous picture of the sector," the minister said.
Patellis, meantime, described himself as an Olympic athlete who won the silver medal as he had been at ΕΟΤ's helm for the last two years. In a separate farewell message, he also thanked journalists accredited to the Development Ministry for their cooperation and expressed his optimism for the prospects for the Greek tourism sector.
Dimadis said that it tend to the to the seeds planted in the previous months so they could blossom "to the benefit of Greek tourism and the national economy." He added that he looked forward to the close cooperation of everyone in the sector as well as ΕΟΤ's staff.

Tour bus operators suspend warning strike
Tour bus operators decided to call off a planned three-day warning strike following what they described as a "constructive meeting" with Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism. The strike would have affected an estimated 5,000 tour buses operated privately in Greece.
The nation-wide strike, which had been scheduled to begin on November 26, had been called to protest against the governments' failure to address various sector demands expressed over the last two years. The strike was backed by the Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises (ΡΟΕΤ), the General Panhellenic Federation of Tour Buses (GPOP), and the Tourism Federation of Northern Greece (ΟΤΒΡ).
ΗΑΤΤΑ, the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents, had also issued a statement supporting the tour bus operators and protesting the government's "unacceptable policies" that undermine Greece's tourism product.
Operator demands had included a program for replacing tour buses in public service under the same economic terms as those granted to the owners of KTEL long-distance or inter-city buses, the issue of a specified number of licenses for buses fitted exclusively to meet the needs of passengers with physical handicaps, as well as a decision clarifying which ministry has jurisdiction over the sector, which is monitored in part by the Transport Minister and in part by the Development Ministry.
The unions' decision to call off the strike was announced on November 25, following representatives' meeting with the Development Minister. Union officials said that they had decided to suspend labor action as a gesture of good will in order to allow the ministry time to respond to the issues raised during the meeting.
In a statement issued after the meeting, ΡΟΕΤ said Tsohadzopoulos had also conveyed his commitment to creating a general directorate for tour buses under the Development Ministry, a longstanding demand that had led to a tour bus strike two-and-a-half years ago.

Swiss magazine highlights Greece
The Journal Aertze Medico, a bimonthly magazine published in Switzerland, devoted 42 pages to Greece.
The magazine, which is published in both French and German, has 25,000 subscribers, mainly in the medical sector, and a readership of 450,000.
The journal's September-October issue highlighted destinations in Athens, the Northern Sporades islands, and Santorini. The feature included sections on Greek history, culture, and gastronomy.

Stathopoulos Hotels upgrated
Hotel Plaka and Hotel Achilleas, properties owned and operated by the Stathopoulou family, have undergone complete renovations ahead of the 2004 season. Both properties are located near Syntagma and have emerged as favourites among travel agents and operators. Both have received ISO 2001 and HACCP certification.
The Stathopoulos family also announced the renovation of its Kalamaki Beach property, a Class Α hotel at Isthmia near Corinth, and the opening of a new 50-room three-star hotel in the Greek capital's Psyrri district.

Ιonian Isles host stand at London Travel ΕΧΡΟ
The Ionian Islands' Tourism Enterprise (ΕΤΙΝ) participated in the Greek pavilion at WTM 2003 with its own stand. It was the first time that the Ionian Islands had an organized, independent presence at this fair, one of the world's premiere travel marts held annually in London.
The Ionian Islands' 48-square-meter stand was located next to the Greek National Tourism Organization's (ΕΟΤ) pavilion and across from the main Greek stand and next to the Corfu, Kos, Rhodes, and Halkidiki stands. Each region in the Ionians had its own section in the stand, where print material and other information was displayed and exhibited. An award-winning documentary on the Ionian Islands was also showed continuously on a large screen in the stand.
The Ionian display was inaugurated by Yiannis Patellis, ΕΟΤ's president, immediately following the inauguration of the Greek stand. The Ionian stand also attracted the attention of journalists from the BBC, Sky television, Channel Four, the London Times, the Observer, the Independent, the Daily Telegraph and other British and international media.
During the first two days of WTM 2003, the stand was visited by travel professionals who held meetings with representatives from the Ionian about possible programs for 2004. Participants noted a change in reservations patterns as part of a global trend in favour of last-minute bookings instead of early bookings which had been made nine or ten months in advances.

TUI executive highlight Greece in annual summary
Josef Petenleiter, director of TUI-Austria, highlighted Greece as an example of quality tourism in his annual review of the organization's activities. He said that in light of 2004, when Athens will host the Olympic Games, the company was preparing 456-page catalogues featuring 261 hotels, seven clubs, 32 all-inclusive hotels, and 32 holiday packages.
In his remarks, reported in a press release issued by the Greek National Tourism Organization, Petenleiter cited the Iraq war, the SARS outbreak, and the economy as the main factors that had influenced the 2003 season despite the travel sector's earlier optimism for a rebound. He said that the countries that had suffered most from these negative effects had been those closest to the Middle East, such as Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt. He said Turkey, which in January had projected a 47 percent increase in bookings for the 2003, had noted a 27 percent decrease by March and had closed the season on October 31 with a 10 percent drop from the previous year.
Nonetheless, he noted, TUI-Austria had recorded an overall eight percent increase in the number of tourists and a 3.5 percent increased in gross profits.
He added that for 2004, TUI-Austria's goal was to provide quality packages at attractive prices as well as maintain a balance between timely and last minute bookings.

Strintzis posts impressive rise in pre-tax profits
Strintzis Shipping Lines, whose fleet includes Blue Star Ferries, has reported an 83.3 percent increase in pre-tax profits for the first nine months of 2003 compared to the same period of the previous year. Attica Enterprises holds a controlling 48.6 percent share in the company.
In the period January-September 2003, the company recorded turnover of 105,813,000 euros compared to 95,707,000 euros in the same period of 2002. During this period, earnings before interest and depreciation rose 22.6 percent from 21,102,000 euros in 2002 to 25,867,000 euros while net profits rose 83.3 percent from 3,374,000 euros on 2002 to 6,186,000 euros in 2003.
The company said in a statement that this impressive rise had been the result of an increase in passenger and vehicle traffic on its routes from Piraeus to the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands as well as on a Piraeus-Hania route introduced in March served by its Blue Star fleet. The company said its Superferry ΙΙ and Seajet 2 vessels serving routes in the Cyclades islands from the port of Rafina had also posted good results. The company also operates the "Kefalonia" on the Patras-Sami-Ithaca line.
Analytically, in the first nine months of 2003, Strintzis Shipping vessels carried 3,340,092 passengers representing a 35.8 percent increase over the 2,459,300 passengers carried during the same period of 2002. In the same period, it reported a 26.6 percent over 2002 but an 8.7 percent drop in the number of trucks carried.

Superfast Ferries retain lead in Adriatic routes
Superfast Ferries maintained their lead in the Adriatic, where the fleet ranked first for the sixth consecutive year in passenger, vehicle and freight traffic, Attica Enterprises said in a statement.
It said that the company's share of total market traffic of passengers, freight units, and private vehicles was 31.8, 31.7, and 25.9 percent respectively, on the highly competitive routes between Greece and Adriatic ports.
Meantime, on the direct Germany-Finland route, Superfast VII and Superfast VII had carried over 140,000 passengers, 36,500 freight units, and 45,000 private vehicles since the beginning of the year and ranked first in the all segments of this market.
On the direct Scotland-Belgium route inaugurated in May, Superfast ΙΧ and Superfast Χ had carried more than 145,00 passengers, 22,500 freight units, and 31,500 private vehicles through September 30.
Attica Enterprises has a controlling share in Strintzis Shipping Lines.

Americans learn “All about Greek wine”
Sixteen of Greece's best-known wineries are participating in an innovative campaign aimed at acquainting American wine lovers with Greek vintages. "All About Greek Wine," a campaign devised by oenologist Sofia Perpera, has introduced Greek wines at special events hosted at leading U.S. restaurants like Ali Oli in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Tribeca Grill in New York City.
The event at the Tribeca Grill, owned by actor Robert De Niro, attracted journalists from the New York Times, Newsweek, Food & Wine, Wine News, and other specialist journals as well as top sommeliers like Chanterrelle's Roger Dagom and Mylos's Hervi Pennequin.
The wine presentation was conducted by Steve Olson.
Information about Greek wines and the campaign is available online at www.allaboutgreekwine.com

INADE celebrates 3rd Anniversary
INADE, the Western Greece Development Institute, marked the third anniversary of its founding with an extensive review of its activities to date at a recent press conference in Patras.
INADE was formed in October 2000 as an initiative of 103 prominent personalities from the Achaia, Ilia, Aetoloakarnania, and Arcadia provinces. Since its inception, it has organized a series of conferences and events aimed at highlighting three basic themes: convergence with the rest of the European Union, the introduction and use of new technologies, and promoting culture.
Kostas Zaimis, INADE's president, also unveiled the institute's newsletter, "Western Greece Development," at the press conference. Zaimis said that attaining the institute's goals for the region's development required a concerted effort and cooperation between the region's productive forces and the state.
INADE's main goal is to resolve the region's socioeconomic problems and improve the quality of life by bolstering economic activity and raising the educational and cultural levels.
One of the institute's most important activities is the annual "Bridges" conference, first held in 2002, to discuss links and joint programs in western Greece. The conference title was inspired by the soon-to-be-completed bridge across the Corinthian Gulf currently linked by a ferry crossing from Rio to Antirio.

ΗAΤΤΑ expresses sympathy for Turkish people after bombings
The Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents (ΗΑΤΤΑ) issued a statement expresses its sympathy and support for its Turkish counterpart, TURSAB, and the Turkish people following the terrorist bombings in Istanbul.
In its statement, ΗΑΤΤΑ noted that tourism is a profession with social and cultural sensitivities and which promotes peace and friendship, vital elements for the prosperity of the people in the sensitive area of the Middle East.
ΗΑΤΤΑ condemned the blind terrorist attacks whose victims are innocent citizens and that aim at destabilizing the sensitive region.

British Airways introduces Holiday Packages
British Airways announced special holiday packages for Greek travellers wishing to spend Christmas in London. The packages featured round-trip airfare between Athens and London as well as two nights at participating four-star hotels in central London.
Package prices ranged from 358.21 euros per person to 392.11 euros per person, double occupancy, excluding airport taxes.

WTO congratulates Patellis
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) has sent a congratulatory telegram to Yiannis Patellis, past president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), on his election to the WTO's Standing Committee on Sustainable Tourism Development.
The committee's next meeting will be held in Thailand this March.

Delta upgrades Athens-New York air link
Delta Airlines will introduce a second flight between New York's JFK Airport and Athens International Airport to cover increased demand because of the Olympic Games and the Paralympics.
The second flight will operate from June 3 through September 30, with departures at 12:20 p.m. from Athens on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and at 5:50 p.m. from New York on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Delta currently operates daily flights between New York and Athens.
"Delta is proud to be the only American carrier with direct flights to Athens and we are happy to be able to offer our customers a second opportunity to reach to the birthplace of the Olympic Games," Subodh Karnik, Delta's vice president of networks, said in a statement.
The new flight to be introduced this summer will be served by a Boeing 767-300ER and will include the airline's award-winning Business Elite service.

Gulf Air posts record results
Gulf Air flights operated at an average 73.5 percent capacity in the third quarter of 2003, carrying 1,811,232 passengers or 17.4 percent more passengers than during the same period of the previous year.
"Gulf Air is on track for realizing its goals," said the airline's president and managing director James Hogan.
The airline had a record third quarter, with earnings up 12.3 percent for the first three quarters of the year compared to 20002, while it expects to close the year with after-tax losses down 50 percent from last year.
"Although we are still just halfway through our three-year strategic restructuring plan, the important changes that have been made to date have created an imported difference in the company's commercial sector," Ahmed Al Hamadi, the airline's vice president of finance, said in a statement. "We are in a much stronger financial position, with our customers and competitors aware that we have returned dynamically to the market."
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is the only airline with service to all the Gulf states. The airline's network covers Europe and Asia, with flights to 45 cities in 33 countries. Its fleet, one of the most modern in the Middle East, includes 33 aircraft.

Botopoulos to replace Georgarakis
Konstantinos Botopoulos has assumed the post of General Secretary of Tourism, replacing D. Georgarakis who resigned, the Development Ministry said in a statement.
Botopoulos was born in Athens in 1962 and is a graduate of the University of Athens School of Law, with graduate and post-graduate studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. He has served in the Bank of Greece legal department and as a special consultant to the Greek EU presidencies on transport and defence issues. He speaks French, English, Italian, Spanish, and German, and has been widely published in academic journals and the Greek press.
During the handover ceremony, Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos thanked Georgarakis for his contributions to getting the general secretariat started and welcomed Botopoulos.
"Tourism must be of more systematic concern from this point forward as we have the responsibility of implementing the changes decided on during the recent meeting of the Interministerial Committee on Tourism regarding the changes in the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) and the General Secretariat for Tourism," Tsohadzopoulos said.
He emphasized that it was paramount to forge ahead with the implementation of the new institutional framework on tourism. "We believe that within December, before the parliamentary discussion on the budget, we will have completed this institutional framework so that we can move ahead with legislative changes after the holidays and create the foundations of the new identity of ΕΟΤ and the General Secretariat for Tourism," he added.
In a statement, the main opposition New Democracy party said that the replaced of the General Secretary for Tourism as well as the head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) was a "resounding admission" of the failure of the government's policy regarding tourism.
Anastasios Liaskos, the member of Parliament in charge of tourism issues for New Democracy, said in a statement that the "chaotic condition in the sector indicated a lack of seriousness and absence of responsibility towards this vital sector of the Greek economy."

Martakis coordinates plans for “Greek month” on German trains
Martakis Tourism Consultants is pushing ahead with organizing "Greek Month" on German railways, a special promotion now in its fourth year.
In February, German rail commuters will be tempted with mouth-watering delicacies advertising Greek cuisine as part of a "Greek Month"." The highly successful promotional campaign is being coordinated for the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) by Martakis in cooperation with the German rail company Die Bahn and its advertising subsidiary Deutsche Eisebahn Reklame.
As part of the campaign, Greek dishes and beverages are featured on train restaurants and bistros aimed at promoting Greek holiday destinations. Dishes are proposed by tourist regions and the final menu will be decided this month by a panel in Frankfurt.
During last year's "Greek Month" promotion, 3,000 bottles of ouzo, 12,000 bottles of red and white wines, 23,000 portions of Greek salad, 19,500 portions of vegetable soup, 14,500 portions of bean soup, 7,000 portions of cod, and 10,000 portions of Greek yoghurt and honey were consumed.
Participants in this year's promotion include the Lesvos, Cyclades, Syros, and Pieria prefectures, the Naxos Hoteliers' Association, Grecotel, G Hotels, Superfast Ferries, Attiki Honey, Plomari ouzo, and Tsantalis Wines.

Best Western Greece adds two properties in Romania
The Best Western Topaz in Cluj and the Best Western Ambassador in Timosoara have been added to roster of hotel's under the management of Best Western Greece, which is responsible for properties in Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Romania, and Syria.
The Best Western Topaz has 49 rooms and conference facilities, while the Best Western Ambassador has 40 rooms, four suites, and a collection of fine art in its restaurant.
Information about Best Western properties is available online at www.bestwestern.com or by email from bwgree@internet.gr

ΟΤΕΚ hosts seminar on tourism market
The Organization for Tourism Training (ΟΤΕΚ) hosted a daylong conference on December 8 to discuss "ΟΤΕΚ's role in the competitive environment of the tourism market."
The conference was held at the Goulandris-Horn Foundation in Athens. Participants heard welcoming remarks by Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos as well as Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos.
Speakers included Georgios Drakopoulos, general director of SETE, and ΟΤΕΚ general director Athena Lazou.

Tsohadzopoulos chairs meeting on ΕΟΤ
Development Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism issues, briefed the media on December 4 on a meeting of top government tourism officials to discuss preliminary results from the 2003 season.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, the general-secretary for tourism Konstantinos Botopoulos, the newly appointed chairman of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) Nikos Dimadis, and the managing director of Hellenic Tourism Properties, Andonis Homenidis.
Tsohadzopoulos provided final data from the 2002 season, during which Greece ranked 13th on the World Tourism Organization list in terms of arrivals of foreign tourists and was the eighth most popular destination in Europe. According to WTO data, Greece had a 3.5 percent share of the global tourism market, with 14,180,000 visitors in 2002, an increase of 0.9 percent over 2001.
"You do recall the projections of declines for 2002 although we had predicted a slightly improvement and stabilization in the area of 1-1.5 percent. The fact is that the one percent increase in 2002 confirms that our estimates are correct, realist, and far from any subjectivity as we never sought to paint a rosier picture [than reality]," he said.
Tsohadzopoulos also mentioned a new study by the European Travel Commission conducted in 35 countries according to which Greece's revenues from tourism rose 3.1 percent in 2002 over the previous year to reach 9.7 billion dollars compared to 9.3 billion dollars the previous year.
"Greece, in this study, ranks seventh among European destinations. Spain is first, with 15 percent market share, followed by France with 13 percent and Italy with 10 percent," he said. "Greece, with a four percent market share, presents a positive picture in 2002 compared to 2001, despite the dire forecasts."
Referring to the 2003 season, Tsohadzopoulos reiterated his belief that projections were unreliable but that the season could close with a slight drop from the previous year.
"But what Ι can say with some certainty is that the World Tourism Organization is predicting an increase of five percent in tourism to Greece for 2004. This is undeniably linked to the Olympic Games as 2004 is a dynamic year and we intend to exploit this," he said.
The minister said more detailed information would be presented to the National Tourism Council, when a more accurate picture of the 2003 seasons' results could be formed. The council, which was due to convene at press time, was also expected to discuss the changes in tourism policy agreed on at the recent Interministerial Committee on Tourism. Indeed, the minister said the council would refine those proposals and organize the new policies into a strategic action plan.
Tsohadzopoulos said ad campaigns for 2004 would be launched on January 1, the first time a Greek tourism campaign got such an early start. The campaign includes promotions in key publications such as the Der Spiegel, The New York Times, the Sunday Times, and the Guardian.
"Regarding advertising, the Interministerial Committee has already decided to launch a new dynamic program for financing tourism advertising for 2004-2008 totalling 150 million euros, while we estimate that the 2004 campaign will absorb 45 million euros for advertising and 15 million euros for [Greek National Tourism Organization] offices abroad," Tsohadzopoulos said.
Finally, Tsohadzopoulos noted that the government and ΕΟΤ were determined that the Olympic Games would not become a vehicle for inflating prices for holiday packages and that the Development Ministry, with the help of ΕΟΤ branches abroad, was collecting data on inflated prices.
"This is why we have discussed how to cooperate with all organizations involved, including tour operators and the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, to control this process," he added.
Responding to press questions on prices at Athens hotels, Georgakopoulos said Development Ministry officials had met with the Hoteliers' Chamber, the Athens Hoteliers' Association, and the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents (ΗΑΤΤΑ) to discuss the issue, as well as the negative long-term impact on Greek tourism from inflated prices during the Olympics.
"Our effort is directed at the Greek market. We are interested in not allowing prices to get out of control or for there to be an attitude of profiteering," Tsohadzopoulos added. "After that, it becomes difficult because we can't control what might happen in Germany or Italy. Thus the question is: what can we do to protect the image of Greek tourism and Greek hotels abroad from inflated prices? That is precisely the issue we have raised and this is why we are working with Athens 2004."

Mistral Hotel hosts “Gold Keys” event
The Mistral's Emmanuel Vrettos was elected president of Gold Keys during the association's recent regular general meeting and elections held at the Mistral hotel in Piraeus. Also elected were Ioannis Varotsis of the Electra Palace as vice president; Evangelos Kondoroussis of the Metropolitan Hotel as general secretary; Maria Karabela of the Poseidon as special secretary; Georgia Prasinos of the Titania as treasurer; and members Dimitrios Melas of the Grand Bretagne, Emanuel Kamilakis, Panayiotis Kassandrinos of the Olympic Palace, and Manoussos Psaroudakis of the Minos Mare.
During the meeting, members discussed a range of issues related to front desk operations, including representation at international gathers and conferences and the association's expansion to other cities.
Emphasis was also made on members' effective presence during the Olympic Games.

Greek Mensa Hosts conference on Artificial Intelligence held
Artificial Intelligence, or ΑΙ, was the focus of a conference in Athens hosted by the Greek branch of MENSA and organized by iForce, a communications and public relations company.
Yiannis Tzenos, president of MENSA, raised the issue of inadequate state programs for children with high intelligence while an overview of research on ΑΙ was presented by the president of the Greek ΑΙ Society, Themiostokles Panayiotopoulos.

Greek-China investments examined at Athens Forum
The Sino-Greek Research Center (ΕΚΚΕΑ) organized a forum on tourism investments and cooperation between Greece and China in Athens recently. The forum was organized by iForce Communications and sponsored by Hellenic Tourism Properties (ΕΤΑ), the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ). The Hellenic Investments Center (ELKE), the Hellenic Organization for Foreign Trade (ΟΡΕ), and the Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce participated in the event.
In his welcoming address, ΕΚΚΕΑ president Stavros Nikolakopoulos hailed the close relations being forged between Greece and China in tourism and other sectors as well as the ties of friendship uniting the two countries. He said China was an enormous market that offered a range of opportunities and that Greece should move quickly to ensure these opportunities are not lost now that the Chinese market has begun to open.
Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos said that obstacles in this direction were being removed as a result of the EU's designation of China as an approved destination and progress towards resolving visa requirements.

Leros hosts two-day conference on Marine Tourism
The first annual conference on theme tourism was held on the island of Leros on December 13-14 in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Southern Aegean. The topic of the meeting was "Developing Alternative Forms of Sea Tourism: Scuba Diving" and proceedings included a visit to Kalymnos for an on-site presentation of an underwater park.
Scuba diving tourism is popular alternative form of tourism that is particularly suited to the southern Aegean.
Conference speakers included Martin Denison, chairman of the EU/CEN European Standards Group for Diving Standards, who spoke on the influence of European CEN diving standards and the potential of Greece, and Immi Wallin, regional manager for PADI international, who spoke on diving tourism in the Mediterranean and Greece.
Martha Simantoni, general secretary for the Southern Aegean region, also addressed the conference on infrastructure and development programs.

DPATTE holds seminar on hotel management
Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos addressed the opening of the first national conference on hotel management organized by the Action for Developing Tourism and Tourism Enterprises (DPATTE) at the Athens Park Hotel in early December.
The topic of the seminar was "The dynamic of management in maximizing profits" and presentations focused on planning, techniques for managing human resources, and using new technologies.

Adel Saachi & Saachi wins ΕΟΤ advertising contract
Adel Saachi and Saachi wins ΕΟΤ advertising contract
Adel Saachi and Saachi has been awarded the contract for developing Greece's 2004 tourism promotion campaign, the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) announced in a statement.

ΙΑΤΑ International Traffic Statistics October 2003
"The air transport industry continues its determined climb back to real industry growth. With a 2.5% passenger traffic increase, for the first time this year, passenger growth has surpassed freight growth," announced Giovanni Bisignani, ΙΑΤΑ Director General and CEO.
October passenger traffic increased 2.5% and freight traffic was up by 1.5% as compared to October 2002. Europe continues to show robust passenger traffic (PRK) growth, up 4% over October 2002. The Middle East has also maintained a strong pace, recording a 20.6% rise, as have carriers in South America at 14.8% and Africa at 6.36%.
Α continuation of recovery has been reported from Asia Pacific as well, coming in at only 0.1% below last year's October results, a significant rebound from all time lows in May due to the SARS impact. Only North America continues to be dogged by lower year-over-year performance comparisons for passenger and freight traffic.
Overall international freight traffic has slowed, although still showing a 1.5% rise compared to results for same month in 2002. Asia Pacific region recorded a 2.8% increase, compared to 5.5% growth reported in the previous month's comparison. Middle East and Africa lead in regional results, each at 23% over 2002.
Traffic trends continue to point to a steady recovery. The cumulative international passenger results for January through October 2003 are 4.15% below results for January-October 2002, but this is an improvement over January-September cumulative results (-4.9%).
Year-to-date results for freight traffic reflect a slow-down in the international freight market, at 5.0% growth for January through October, as compared to 5.5% growth rate reported January through September. There was a 0.7% improvement in overall capacity (ASK) for October compared to 2002, contributing to a small drop in October passenger load factor to 74.6% as compared to 75.8% in September 2003.

From My Notebook - By Connie Soloyanis
- “Fly ‘em cowboy!” It would appear that all airline pilots may well be carrying guns in the future.
- If you plan a visit to Moscow (with wife or girlfriend), and take a ride in the subway, be advised it is against the law there to kiss in the subway.
- If you visit Switzerland and over indulge in alcoholic offerings, do not lie down anywhere in public - you can be arrested for being drunk. Keep standing (leaning is permitted) because then you are considered sober. Standing is ΟΚ, but not lying down.
- Rome has a new tourist possibility - viewing the “eternal city” from a balloon, one that can accommodate up to 30 people. Similar tours have been operating elsewhere, such as in Budapest.
- In Britain a new tour takes you into Windsor Castle, with said tour including the great kitchen where among objects of interest is a giant food mixer which is capable of whisking on hundred eggs. For a kingly-sized omelet.
- Where possible many airlines have been replacing the normal commercial aircraft for smaller seating capacity, such as subbing Fokker 70 airplanes for Boeing 747 aircraft.
- New worry for tourism: The European Union Court of Justice has ruled that a Hungarian tour operator must pay compensation to a family because its holiday in Turkey was ruined because their child contracted salmonella there.
- The European Union has adopted a plan where as pets travelling with their owners can have a special passport (replete with photograph).
- Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai, is introducing “night sky above Dubai” complete with twinkling constellations on its Airbus flights, all to help passengers to relax and help avoid jet lag.
- Within the U.S. the new security fingerprint and photo system of foreigner visitors comes with longer delays. Incidentally, the U.S. now gets some 24 million foreigners per year.
- New York City remains the top destination for foreign visitors to the States. It currently has an impressive 70,531 hotel rooms, with a host of new ones scheduled to open. These accommodations do not include apartments rented by the day, week or month.
- Peking, hosting the Olympic Games in 2008, is planning to build some 230 new hotels to accommodate visitors. At present there are some 576 hotels there.
- The gay-lesbian tourism market is now estimated to represent some $54 billion annually.
- What with continued violence in Israel, and terrorist attacks in Turkey, Dubai has now become the top destination in the Middle East.
- Tony Curtis, the internationally known film actor, of Hungarian origin, has agreed to appear in a television advertising campaign to boost tourism to Hungary.
- Philosophy Dept.: One main object in life is not to be honoured posthumously.
- When all is said and done, there is more said than done.
- People who boast of their family tree have usually pruned it first.
- When it comes to giving some people stop at nothing.
- The premise of being on time carries a lot of wait.