March 2003

Moving ahead
After weathering the difficulties of last year's season, Greece's tourism industry hoped for a rebound this year as the country moved into the Olympic spotlight. But this dynamic was halted by the threat of a war in Iraq that has hung over the globe - and especially the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East - since the beginning of the year. Under such conditions, planning has been difficult, if not impossible; neither public nor private sector have been able to forge a strategy for countering the effects of an armed conflict without knowing when it would begin or whether it would be brief or protracted.
Nonetheless, there has been some preparation for after the crisis. One such example is Sportius Hospitality, an innovative company that specializes in sports tourism. Its operation, experience, and expertise can be applied in other fields of specialized or alternative tourism that seems to be the travel sector's newest buzzword. The government is also supporting alternative forms of tourism to help extend the season by devising and promoting international cooperation schemes such as the "Footsteps of Paul" and the "Olive Route" proposal to be presented at the Unicef annual meeting.
Since January, uncertainty over the war has also made the public's mood more difficult to gauge as far as travel is concerned. Greece has made impressive presentations at travel trade shows around the world and feedback from these exhibitions has been quite positive. Indeed, one might say that, once again, Greece is the word for holidays. But these encouraging messages from abroad have yet to translate into something tangible. Uncertainty over the war in Iraq made people more reluctant to plan their vacations; thus, while it is common for the media to report that bookings are down or decry cancellations, this is not exactly true as bookings are late. They are, however, beginning to trickle in.
These first bookings carry an even more encouraging message from ΙΤΒ and other travel trade shows. Despite the uncertainty of the duration and aftermath of a war in Iraq, Greece - as a holiday destination - is expected to be one of the countries to benefit from the Gulf crisis. Herein lies both an opportunity and a trap.
One of the countries whose tourism industry is expected to be particularly hard hit is Turkey. Before the crisis, large foreign tour operators had negotiated rock-bottom rates with Turkish hotels for package holidays. Tour operators are naturally hoping to obtain the same rates for their customers at Greek hotels, although Greek hoteliers are quite reasonably reluctant to further slash prices to match the rates offered by Turkey. Greece's tourism enterprises are faced with a delicate situation: how much ground should they give to the intense pressure being applied by foreign tour operators.
Α tight 2002 season and the threat of an even worse 2003 may push tourist businesses towards making deep concessions and cuts. But is not a reason for panic. There is every indication that tourism will pick up this year, even though tourist arrivals will likely be delayed. Greek businesses must be careful in negotiating contracts to ensure that they have a good season, yet should keep in mind that this year's circumstances are special so they do not jeopardize their future negotiating positions.

Hellenic Travelling

Sportius Hospitality blazes trail in tourism services
Sportius Hospitality, Greece's first sports tourism promoter recently announced a series of programs and services aimed at developing sports tourism in Greece.
"The 2004 Olympic Games present a great challenge to us all," Constantinos Mitsiou, president of Sportius Hospitality, told a news conference. "It is also a great opportunity as it creates conditions for Greece's development and promotion, as well as investment. Sportius Hospitality, which has considerable experience and expertise in the field of sports tourism is ready to rise to this challenge."
Sportius Hospitality was formed through the merger of two larger tour operators from Greece and Cyprus, Amphitrion and MIBS. Constantinos Mitsiou is president of Amphitrion. MIBS's president is Markos Siapanis.
"The activities of Sportius Hospitality do not end with the close of the Olympic Games," said Siapanis, co-president of Sportius Hospitality. "The Athens Games are a springboard for becoming active in other major sports venues."
Sportius Hospitality aims to establish itself as the leader in this growing sector of specialized tourism. The company provides services for individual athletes, teams, and sports federations or clubs. It has a network of 20 cooperating offices in 50 countries, plus a wholly owned fleet of over 30 tour buses.
Yiorgos Karpetis, managing director of Sportius Hospitality, said the services sector was one of the most demanding business sectors as clients seek ever-higher quality.
"We believe that we have the ability to completely satisfy our clients. We are ready, as from today, to provide the full range of services we offer," he added.
During the Olympic Games, Sportius Hospitality will be the largest single hospitality group, according to Nikolas Gazelidis, another managing director. He said the company would manage two cruise ships with a total of 1,600 cabins and 2,500 hotel rooms in units in the Athens environs. The cruise ships, two of Holland America Line's most luxurious vessels, are licensed to dock in Piraeus during the Games.
Sportius Hospitality has also been designated the official and exclusive hospitality representative and ticket agent for the national Olympic Committees of Russia, Ukraine, and Cyprus.

ΕΟΤ to move into new building
Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos has signed an order under which the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) will be housed in a new building on Tsoha St. in Athens.

Corfu Palace inaugurates conference center
The Dionysis Solomos Conference Center opened in February, further expanding the Corfu Palace Hotel's facilities and services.
Named after one of Greece's most distinguished poets whose verse is featured in the Greek national anthem, the conference center occupies a total usable area of 550 square meters. The facility is built around a large, divisible hall with a seating capacity of 350. This space can be broken down into smaller meeting and presentation rooms, including three 100-seat halls. In keeping with the conference center's names, these presentation rooms are named after Nikolas Mantzaros, who composed the Greek national anthem; writer Constantine Theotokis; and Spyros Samaras, who composed the Olympic anthem.
The center includes a service area for coffee breaks and kitchen capable of catering a 250-person meal or 500-person cocktail reception. Additional amenities include secretarial and administrative support, audiovisual equipment, and booths for simultaneous translation.

Carnival Conquest on Caribbean route
Carnival Conquest, the largest ship on the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, has been routed to the Caribbean, where it is on seven-day tours of the western Caribbean from New Orleans.
Carnival Conquest, which has a capacity of 2,974 passengers, was built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Italy and launched last October. It has a carrying capacity of 110,000 tons and is the 19th ship in the Carnival fleet. The ship is 952 feet long and has 22 bars and lounges. Its 13 decks features cabins (60 percent with a sea view), sports facilities include volleyball and basketball courts, four swimming pools, a 15,000-square-foot spa, internet cafe, conference
room, and casino. The ship's restaurants include a sushi bar, two split-level restaurants, a poolside eatery, and a 24-hour pizzeria.
The Amphitrion Group represents Carnival Cruise Lines in Greece and Cyprus. The group also represents the cruise line in Lebanon and Turkey. Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Glory, will be launched this summer.

Plotin celebrates new year
The Plotin travel group celebrated the new year with the customary cutting of the New Year's pita for staff and associates.
Haris Antoniou, president of the Plotin Group of Companies, and Christos Andoniou, the group's vice president, cut the three pitas while all the lucky coins went to Plotin Air.
Plotin is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. The group comprises a network of 30 branches in Greece at resorts and international airports.

Singapore Airlines expands service to Melbourne
Singapore Airlines will add three new weekly routes between Singapore and Melbourne, starting from March 31. The company's fleet of Boeing 777-200 aircraft will serve the three new flights.
Flight SQ237 from Singapore to Melbourne will leave depart shortly before midnight, facilitating passengers with corresponding flights from Asian destinations. Flight SQ238 from Melbourne to Singapore will depart in the morning, thus facilitating passengers with connections to India and northern Asia.
Singapore Airlines has been serving Melbourne since 1972 and is the largest non-Australian carrier that flies to Australia.

Maris Hotels hosts third staff-management conference
Professionals at Maris, Volunteers in Society was the theme of the annual staff and management conference hosted by the Maris Hotels at the Creta Maris conference center at the seaside Cretan resort of Hersonissos.
Following opening remarks by the local and regional authorities, including the Hersonissos mayor, the group's managing director, Andreas Metaxas, launched the working sessions with a speech highlighting the hotel chain's vision. "At Maris Hotels, we believe that each one of us alone and all of us together must envision, plan, and try to make our vision reality. We care about humans and the environment. We work according to the triple tenets of personal satisfaction, business profits, social benefits," he said.
Nikos Kontakis, Maris sales director, reviewed the results of the company's training program, while Bella Maris manager Nikos Foundoulakis and Candia Maris reception director Fotini Daskalaki spoke on other aspects of the company's policies.
The conference was also addressed by Kyriaki Lazopoulou, volunteers’ director for the Athens 2004 Olympic Committee, who emphasized the importance of public participation in the Games. Iraklio, Crete, is one of four cities that has been chosen to host selected Olympic events.

ASTA & Ρ.Ο.Ε.Τ. hosts New YEARS reception
Members of Asta, the Panhellenic Federation of Tour Operators (Ρ.Ο.Ε.Τ.) and the Union of Owners of Passenger Ships took a break from their daily activities and concerns to celebrate the new year at the federation's annual cutting of the pita. The reception, which was attended by more than 500 guests, was held at the Astir Vouliagmeni Hotel.
Among the guests were Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism; senior members of the main opposition New Democracy party; U.S. Ambassador Thomas Miller; foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of China, Spain, Ireland, and India.
Despite the celebratory nature of the gathering, the mood was subdued as a result of the uncertainty over a war in Iraq and its effects on the tourism sector. Service plaques were presented to Ρ.Ο.Ε.Τ. members, including posthumous honours to Christos Koulouvatos and Angelos Vassiliadis.

Greece voted Slovaks' top destination
Slovaks showed their appreciation for Greece at the annual ITF Slovakiatour show held in Bratislava by voting Greece the most popular holiday destination.
The Greek pavilion at the 15,000-square-meter show was visited by Slovak President Rudolf Suster as well as thousands of other visitors.
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) also participated in the annual Holiday World fair held in Prague. More than 35,000 visitors streamed by the Greek pavilion, whose exhibitors included several regional tourism authorities.

British Airways introduces London getaway package
British Airways has introduced a London getaway package that includes round-trip tickets, airport transfers, plus two nights at a luxury-class hotel like the Le Meridien Grosvenor House. The price per person for a double room is Ε439, and the offer is valid through the end of March.
British Airways has daily flights between Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport at Spata) and London (Heathrow Airport). Information and reservations can be made though a travel agent, direct through British Airways at 210.8906666 or online at www.britishairways.com

Interior Ministry hosts round-tables on tourism
Cultural Tourism and Development were the main themes of a recent round-table discussion organized by the Interior Ministry as part of its regular meetings on issues about the environment and tourism.
The discussion launched the sixth cycle of the Interior Ministry's meetings, which are funded by the Community Support Framework ΙΙΙ. The round-table was held in Iraklio, Crete, and followed by similar events in Athens, and Thessaloniki.
The sixth cycle of roundtable discussions focused on tourism as a vehicle for cultural exchanges at the European and international levels. Meetings focused on how tourism affects cultural heritage and development. Emphasis was placed on the Olympics, sports tourism, environmental tourism, and festivals.
The roundtables are attended by representatives of local and regional authorities.

Singapore Airlines sales network grows five-fold
Singapore Airlines has expanded its sales network five-times over through a new company website that allows passengers to make online reservations for connecting flights on other airlines. This has expanded the reach of Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary SilkAir from 90 to 450 destinations worldwide.
This is a result of Singapore Airline's continuous efforts to provide high quality services to its customers. Our web page is a travellers' aid that offers customers the ability for more choices and flexibility in planning their trips to any part of the world," said the airline's senior vice president for marketing, Tan Chik Qee.
By logging in at www.singaporeair.com, passengers can make reservations for multi-leg trips in a single reservation rather than booking each leg of a trip separately. KrisFlyer members will now be able to cash in their frequent flyer miles online for 44 destinations for which e-ticketing is available. Through the website, passengers can access local services offered in 37 destination-countries. Information is available in five languages: English, simple Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and French.

Attica Enterprises reports 27.2 pct increase in group turnover
Attica Enterprises, which controls the Superfast Ferries and Blue Star fleets, has posted a 27.2 percent increase in turnover in 2002 over the previous year. The increase was generated by the two fleets.
In 2002, the group took delivery of four new Superfast ferries - Superfast ΙΧ, Superfast Χ, Superfast ΧΙ, and Superfast ΧΙΙ - and two new Blue Star ferries - Blue Star Paros and Blue Star Naxos. It also sold Superfast ΙΙΙ and Superfast IV at a profit, as well as the vessels Blue Aegean and SeaJet1.
On Adriatic Sea routes, for the fifth consecutive year Superfast ferries ranked first in transporting passengers and trucks. Superfast has a market share of 27.8 and 27.5 percent, respectively, in total passenger and freight traffic between all Italian ports and Greece.
On the Germany-Finland route, Superfast VI and Superfast VIII outperformed, completed 616 sailings and carrying more than 150,000 passengers, private cars, and freight units. The company has been active on this route for less than two years.
On the Scotland-Belgium route inaugurated last May, Superfast ΙΧ and Superfast Χ carried over 100,000 passengers and noted a steady growth in freight traffic.
Attica Enterprises has a 48.6 percent share in Strintzis Lines Shipping S.Α., which owns Blue Star ferries. Strintzis has routed three brand new ships on the Cyclades routes and Blue Star 1 in the Dodecanese. In March, the company launched a new daily Piraeus-Hania route with the car-passenger ferry Blue Star 2.

Blue Star reports 10.6 percent increase in sales
Strintzis Lines Shipping S.Α., which owns Blue Star ferries, has reported a 10.6 increase in sales and 3.5 percent increase in net profits in 2002 over the previous year.
The improved sales and profits are due to the introduction of two new ships, Blue Star Paros and Blue Star Naxos, on the popular Cyclades routes last summer.
Last month, Blue Star also launched a new route connecting Piraeus and Hania. The Blue Star 2 will make daily sailings from Piraeus at 4 p.m. and from Hania at 11.30 p.m.; the trip will take 5 hours and 45 minutes.

ΕΟΤ issues invitation for cooperative tourism projects
The National Tourism Council, which is chaired by Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, is expected to issue invitations for cooperative or synergy projects in the tourism sector.
The invitation will be issued by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) in the framework of its tourism promotion policy.
Promotional cooperation or synergies will be sought in the following areas: common themes, such as sports tourism, conference tourism, weekend tourism, sea tourism, and so on; geographic areas, such as activities by municipality or region; and, other synergies to be proposed by individual applicants.

Regional authorities focus on tourism prospects, problems
Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism, recently met with representatives of regional authorities to discuss common and specific problems with tourism in their regions.
Georgakopoulos held talks with representatives from the regions of Arcadia, Corinth, Argolis, Pieria, and Fthiotida. The meetings were attended by the deputy minister for labor and social security, Rovertos Spiropoulos, and the general secretary for tourism, Dimitris Georgarakis.
In a brief statement to reporters, Georgakopoulos said that developing tourism would create better conditions for regional economies, including employment and social cohesion.
The deputy ministry plans to hold similar talks with representatives of other regional authorities.

Aegean Airlines invited to join Flight Safety Foundation
Theodoros Vassilakis, president of Aegean Airlines, has been invited to join the international Flight Safety Foundation as an honorary advisor.
Vassilakis is a founding member of the southeastern European branch of the Flight Safety Foundation. Aegean Airlines is a member of the foundation, too.
In a letter inviting Vassilakis to join the board's advisors, the foundation's president Stuart Matthews acknowledged Vassilakis's efforts to foster the idea of flight safety within both Aegean Airlines and the airline industry.

Greece to increase promotion, advertising abroad
Greece will step up its advertising and promotion campaigns abroad in an attempt to counter any negative effects on tourism that may result from a war in Iraq.
The strategy was decided and approved at a meeting chaired by Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism, with the general secretary for tourism, Dimitris Georgarakis, and the head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), Yiannis Patellis.
The meeting decided to intensify contacts with foreign media and tourism officials aimed at promoting tourism to Greece. Strategy was further coordinated at a meeting of the heads of all ΕΟΤ offices abroad during the sidelines of the ΙΤΒ trade show in Berlin. Α follow-up meeting is also planned for Athens.
Officials said they are studying ways to develop a promotional campaign without wasting resources on an ineffective advertising campaign that could be neutralized by a protracted crisis.
Finally, the officials agreed that in the event of war in Iraq, they would recommend that the government adopt measures to prop up Greek tourism similar to those adopted during the Yugoslav crisis.

Hellenic Tourism Properties seeks strategic investor
Hellenic Tourism Properties, the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), will seek a strategic investor to help manage its properties and privatization program.
The announcement was made by president of Hellenic Tourism Properties, Stefanos Hantzopoulos, during an interview with the television program "Business & Travel."

ΟΤΕ, Anko sign Syros contract
The Hellenic Telecommunications Company (ΟΤΕ) and Anko have been selected to develop the advanced telecommunications infrastructure for the Syros marina, Anko announced.
It said that a local area network (LAN), with internet access and email service, would be installed as part of the plan to improve the marina's telecommunications. The upgrades include installation of an Alcatel switchboard, OmniPCX Office, plus a DHCP server, and customized telephone system.

ΕΟΤ signs more promotional deals with foreign media
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) has signed promotional agreements with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, New Zealand's TVN2, Australia's 7 Network Limited, and the Athens Olympic Japan Consortium.
ΕΟΤ said the agreements provided for promotion of Greece and the 2004 Olympic Games to be hosted by Athens throughout 2003 and 2004.
ΕΟΤ has already signed a similar agreement with Visa International and the American network NBC, which will broadcast the Olympic Games in the United States.
China's Phoenix channel has also dispatched a television crew to Greece to collect material about the country and the Olympic Games.

Greek month on German rail successful
Rail passengers were the target of a month-long campaign to promote travel to Greece in Germany. Throughout the month of March, German rail passengers had the opportunity to sample Greek food and learn about Greek destinations. The campaign was organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), which had successfully organized similar promotions in Germany in 1999 and 2000.
Athens 2004, the organizing committee for the Olympic Games, also participated in this year's campaign. Athens 2004 focused on highlighting Greek food and the healthful Mediterranean diet. Passengers sampled vegetable soup, bean soup, Greek salads, cod cooked in the traditional Cyclades style, fruit salad with yogurt and honey, Plomari ouzo, the white Kouros Patras 2001 wine, and the red Kouros Nemea 1999 wine.
Information about "Greek Month" was posted on the Deutsche Bahn website as well as the Deutsche Bahn pavilion at the ΙΤΒ travel trade show in Berlin in early March. Α 20-page brochure about Greece was also distributed by the German rail company. An estimated 5,000 people visit the Deutsche Bahn pavilion each year.
Deutsche Bahn also promoted "Greek Month" on its intranet to its 50,000 employees.
In addition to ΕΟΤ, the regional authorities of the Ionian, Cyclades, and northern Aegean islands participated in "Greek Month" along with the local authorities of Myconos, Naxos, and Rhodes, Hellenic Tourism Properties, Hellenic Wine Cellars, the Isidoros Arvanitis distillery, and Arla Foods.

French arrivals on the increase
Bookings from France are at satisfactory levels, according to a statement issued by the Development Ministry.
It said that both specialized and general tour operators had reported bookings from France were at the same level or even slightly higher than during the same period of the previous year.
Another encouraging sign was the continuation of the Etapes Nouvelles weekly charter flights to Crete through winter and the company's intention to continue the program through 2003. Bookings by French tour operators such as Nouvelles Frontieres, Jet Tours, and Iliadis are already about three percent higher than last year.
Greek officials hope that the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) pavilion at the Salon Mondial du Tourisme in early March will further boost French arrivals this year. Regional tourist authorities of the Ionian islands, Rhodes, and the Magnesia prefecture participated in the Greek pavilion alongside Minoan Flying Dolphins and Club Med.
Α poll of French tour operators, meanwhile, indicated the destination-countries that would likely be most affected by a Gulf crisis would be Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, while the fallout Greece, Cyprus, and Portugal would likely benefit.

Greece proposes "olive route" program
Greece will propose that Unesco will approve the establishment of an "olive route" as part of the Mediterranean's culture heritage and a vital component for sustainable development.
The Greek proposal will be submitted to the 166th executive council of Unesco being held during the first two weeks of April.
The initiative has been developed by Greece in the framework of Unesco's policies aimed at preserving the world's natural and cultural heritage; fostering intercultural cooperation; support for sustainable development; closer European-Mediterranean cooperation; and, the Olympic truce.
The Greek proposal is supported by several other Mediterranean member-states of Unesco.

Blue Star 2 shortens Piraeus-Hania route
Blue Star 2, owned by Strintzis Lines Shipping S.Α, now has daily sailings between Piraeus and Hania. The trip lasts 5 hours and 45 minutes; sailings are daily at 4 p.m. from Piraeus to Hania and at 11:30 p.m. from Hania to Piraeus.
Blue Star 2 was built in 2000, has a speed of 28 miles per hour, and a capacity of 1,900 passengers. Its garage has a capacity of 700 cars or 150 trucks and 100 cars.
Blue Star 2 has a restaurant, cafeteria, nightclub, bars, lounges, on-board shopping, children's play area, and airplane-style seating.

Australians show interest in Greek destinations
Greece has begun to emerge as an attractive holiday destination for Australian tourists, whose interest has been focused by the 2004 Olympic Games to be held in Athens and the availability of specialized tourism.
Australians' growing interest in Greece emerged during talks held by Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos during a recent visit to Australia for talks with travel agents and tour operators active in the Melbourne-Greece market.
Georgakopoulos said that strategies aimed at increasing the number of tourists from Australia included developing packages with neighbouring countries such as Italy as well as specialized tourism aimed at specific markets.
Australian tour operators, meanwhile, raised the issue of direct flights between Greece and Melbourne as a vital factor in increasing the number of arrivals from Australia.

ΕΟΤ hosts London roundtable on conference tourism
More than 70 buyers and organizers participated in a presentation on conference tourism organized at the Greek Centre in London by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) on the sidelines of the Confex 2003 trade show.
Roundtable guests included Martin Lewis, publisher of Μ & ΙΤ magazine; Colette Doyle, editor of Conference & Incentives magazine; and Tony Rogers, managing director of the Association of British Professional Conference Organizers.
ΕΟΤ officials said there was clear interest in Greece among British conference buyers and organizers.

Tour bus fleet 'outdated' says Plotin head
Takis Antoniou, president of the Plotin Group of companies, said that four-fifths of Greece's tour buses were old and therefore unable to provide effective service to visitors. He also called for incentives for tour operators to replace fleets every ten years.
Α former president of the association of Greek travel agents and tour operators, Antoniou said Greece lacked tourism infrastructure and this, combined with the global crisis in the travel market, deterred a large number of tour operators and individual travellers from choosing Greece as a destination. He said bookings were late last year, and a similar phenomenon was evident this year as well.
Antoniou also spoke of a 20 percent decline in tourist arrivals and poor promotion. As an example of the latter, he cited "Greek Month" on German rail that, he said, had not been effective in the past.
He said that the air links were crucial for tourism as 80 percent of foreign arrivals in Greece were by plane. Antoniou added that high air transportation costs would affect arrivals.

Swiss not giving passenger data to U.S.
Two days after the start of new security regulations requiring European Union airlines to provide U.S. officials with detailed passenger information, Swiss International Air Lines continues to fly to the United States unencumbered by the added security measures.
"Switzerland is not in the EU," said Jean-Claude Donzel, a spokesman for Swiss International. "The deal is made between the EU and the U.S." As of Wednesday, airlines originating from EU countries are obliged to provide American immigration officials with detailed information about passengers, including credit card data, religious affiliation and eating habits.
Passengers will be colour-coded in the United States based on their risk potential. Passengers given a red rating - other possibilities are green and yellow - may face rigorous questioning at passport control and could even be denied entry into the United States.
The rules, written since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, have been widely criticized by civil liberties groups, which say they run counter to privacy laws in many countries, and by airlines. But any airline that does not provide the added information on trans-Atlantic flights risks a fine.
Still, Swiss International Air Lines is not complying with the new regulations, Donzel said, because his airline has not been requested to do so.
"We bring EU passengers to the U.S. every day," Donzel said. He said that the situation had made passengers "uncertain," adding, "We're waiting for instructions from the U.S."
Daniel Goering, spokesman for Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation, said there had been no contact between the United States and Switzerland on extra passenger information.
William Gaillard, head of corporate communications for the International Air Transport Association, a trade organization, commented that the advance information project had an added "hassle factor" for carriers.
For travellers, gathering the information may mean longer lines at check-in counters. The transport association estimates that it takes one minute to fill out the form.

Minister pledges support for direct link to Australia
Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos said he had received the assurances of his Australian counterpart that he would hold talks with airlines about establishing direct flights between Greece and Australia, the Development Ministry said in a statement.
It said that Australia's Tourism Minister, Ian MacFarland, had promised his support to Georgakopoulos during a recent meeting in Canberra, which the Greek official visited as part of a parliamentary mission.
Georgakopoulos had been lobbied on the issue by Australian travel agents with whom he had previously held meetings in Melbourne. The travel agents said that reinstating a direct air link between Greece and Australia would have a decisive impact on increasing tourist arrivals from Australia, which in recent years had dropped to between 60,000 and 70,000.
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) office in Australia and New Zealand has projected an 8-10 percent increase in tourist arrivals from these countries in 2003, despite the negative conditions created by a possible war in Iraq. The number is significant, as Australian tourists tend to record longer stays, averaging over 14 days per visit.
Australian tour operators said there was also considerable interest in alternative forms of tourism, including the "Footsteps of Saint Paul" program.

British Airways upgrades its executive privileges
Executive Club members will enjoy additional amenities under British Airways' frequent flyer program, the airline announced.
It said that frequent flyer miles could now be traded in for free tickets, while members in Greece would be able to use their miles for class upgrades as from July 1.
Executive Club members already enjoy privileges such as telephone check-in and choice of menu. New privileges include double bonus miles for gold-card members and a variety of online services. Bonus miles required for free tickets have been reduced as well, so that passengers can earn a free ticket from Athens to London with 25,000 miles instead of 30,000.

ΕΟΤ on alert to counter effects of a war in Iraq
Yiannis Patellis, head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), has placed all ΕΟΤ branches abroad on alert so that they can handle the effects of a possible war in Iraq.
Patellis issued emergency instructions to the heads of ΕΟΤ missions abroad during a meeting with them in Paris on the sidelines of the Salon Mondial de Tourisme as well as at the trade expo in Berlin in early March.

From My Notebook, By Connie Soloyanis
- Worldwide the travel business is now estimated to be an annual $400 billion business, the largest industry in the world. The field provides employment for an estimated 250 million people. And, the field is constantly expanding.
- For those interested in the unusual there is a nude cruise of the Greek islands scheduled for this coming July. Organizer is the American Association of Nude Recreation.
- Most serious threat to have Olympic Airways go bankrupt is the European Union which is insisting that the Greek Government recoup some 194 million euros “aid” extended to the airline.
- Jet fuel price increases of over 100 percent from February 2002 to February 2003 are another major reason commercial airlines are having serious financial problems.
- Estimates are that if the U.S.Α. invades Iraq international commercial air traffic is expected to drop by at least 20 percent immediately thereafter.
- In these days of reduced air traffic passengers are taking noticeably more and more carry-on baggage than ever before.
- Somewhat parallel to the downward sliding of international commercial air travel, there has been a noticeable increase in camper van and caravan rentals, especially in Europe.
- One other noticeable increase in tourism is that of “suicide tourism” to Switzerland, due to permissive euthanasia legislation.
- Though many sectors of tourism in Greece in general are suffering losses, the casinos of the country report impressive gains during the last year.
- The damage in several tourist sites of Greece (i.e. the Cyclades islands) from this past winter’s storms adds to the woes of tourist facilities of Greece.
- If this were not bad enough, some tour operators have volunteered that “Greece is still a paradise, but run down and uncared for”.
- Cruises of the Aegean are suffering from an acute shortage of normally abundant advance bookings.
- The European Union planning measures to stop the apparently lucrative cigarette smuggling (via trucking) from Greece to the United Kingdom.
- The 600-odd athletes from the U.S.Α. expected to participate in the Olympic Games of 2004 are to be accompanied by 200 coaches and administrators plus 150 special agents for security.
- Knowledgeable observers forsee the Olympic Games of 2004, being held in Athens, to be the most expensive ever staged.
- An unofficial survey indicates that the city of Athens has the greatest dog population than any other city in Europe. (There’s an indication of “concrete proof” on almost every street you walk on.)
- The report of a notable increase in violent crimes against British tourists in Greece has resulted in a doubling of police in some of the popular beach areas for Brits in Greece, such as on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu. One program is to have tourists who “over-indulge” being henceforth escorted to their hotels.

GEARING UP FOR THE NEW SEASON
The year 2003 is a year that will challenge the tourism sector. As we go to press, uncertainty over a war in Iraq hangs over the world like a Damoclean sword. Most analysts consider such a war as inevitable, yet there is great uncertainty over when it will be launched and how Iraq, and others, will react to such an attack. While military analysts predict a short campaign on the battlefield, political analysts - especially in Europe - fear its consequences could be far-reaching. Α terrorist backlash against a U.S.-led attack on Iraq could have a crippling effect on the global travel industry.
Greece, whose tourism is affected by global trends, faces a crucial season. The global uncertainty over when the war in Iraq might take place - as well as uncertainty over the conflict's duration - will likely push the tourist season back. This reinforced the argument for developing alternate forms of tourism - such as ecotourism, spa tourism or conference tourism - that will extend the season beyond the peak summer months.
According to data presented by Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos prior to the National Tourism Council meeting in early February, the tourism sector appears to have weathered the fallout from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. by showing a slight increase (one percent) in tourism revenues despite a slight drop in the number of arrivals (1.5 percent). Greek tourism appears to have found the road to recovery, although most observers are apprehensive about whether it has regained sufficient strength to deal with another severe blow such as the fallout from a war in Iraq.
Preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games will also be intensified during 2003. Greece will increasingly come into the spotlight. Over the next twelve months, a large number of journalists, including travel writers, are expected to visit Greece. These are wonderful opportunities for highlighting the country's considerable tourist attractions, from its beaches and archaeological sites to Greek food, music, culture, and nature. But Greece will also come under intense scrutiny, especially where infrastructure and services are concerned - and the impression visitors form of Greece this year is just as important as the impressions formed next year by spectators at the Olympic Games. In many ways, the 2003 and 2004 seasons will have a direct effect on tourist arrivals for the next four or five years.
There have been some setbacks. One is the collapse in February of two sections of the Corinth-Kalamata highway, which has resulted in serious delays in travel to the prime tourist sites of the Argolid as well as the southern Peloponnese. But there is also good news - which are hopefully good omens - to report. The Athens Hilton is now open for business again and the Hotel Grande Bretagne is expected to follow soon. The Development Ministry has stepped up its efforts to support infrastructure upgrades in both the private and public sector, including the revamp of five overland border transit points into "Olympic Gateways." Private investment is also being sought through Hellenic Tourism Properties to develop beaches and resorts, while the ministry is also expected to launch tourism services portal on the internet.
But 2003 is a year in which even the best-laid plans could go astray. Thus while Greece must do its best to seek ways to attract visitors, the tourist season will not depend on these efforts alone.

Hellenic Travelling

ΕΟΤ ISSUES HANDICAPPED GUIDE
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) recently launched the Greek edition of the European Union's handbook "Towards a Europe Accessible to Handicapped Tourists." An estimated 35 million European travellers with physical disabilities
The handbook provides practical information for disabled visitors, as well as services that can facilitate travel for people with physical handicaps. ΕΟΤ officials said they hoped to improve amenities for tourists with physical disabilities, especially as Athens will host the Paraolympics and the 2004 Olympic Games.
Minimal requirements for handicapped access have been included in ΕΟΤ's technical specifications for creating tourist facilities since 1987, and these rules have been extended beyond basics in provisions continued in subsequent laws. Α Presidential Decree issued in 2002 also contains specifications for people whose sight, hearing, or mobility is impaired. These measures cover specifications for public tourist infrastructure, such as convention centers and spas. The law also provides for a 3,000-euro support per room for hoteliers as an incentive for renovating rooms to provide access, for instance ramps, and amenities for guests with physical disabilities.
ΕΟΤ will also inspect existing tourist facilities in greater Athens to see whether amenities comply with rules on handicapped access. In addition to specifications for hotel rooms, it will also issue technical guidelines for public access areas such as pavements, public transportation, theaters and entertainment centers, museums and archaeological sites, as well as banks, post office branches, and other public organization.
Preliminary inspections found that beaches in greater Athens lack any type of amenities for the physically disabled, while just 15 museums and archaeological sites are accessible by the handicapped. It also found that only 15 hotels and three per cent of restaurants are accessible by those physical disabilities.

PROMOTION CAMPAIGN FOR ATTICA
Regional authorities plan to spend 7.3 million euros to promote greater Athens as a tourist destination, a senior official announced.
In a television interview, Michalis Kyriakidis, general secretary for Attica, said that the campaign would beyond the 2004 Olympic Games and would highlight the archaeological wealth of greater Athens.
Kyriakidis said the effort to promote Attica abroad would include creation of convention bureaus to attract this type of group tourism. He said that the operation of the convention bureau would be supported by state funds for the first two years, after which each office would have to become self-sustaining or seek private support.

ΡΟΕΤ ‘SATISFIED’ BY MEETING WITH SKANDALIDIS
ΡΟΕΤ has expressed its satisfaction over the results of its meeting with Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis to discuss the issue of tour leaders in countries that are not part of the European Union.
In a statement issued after their meeting with the minister, ΡΟΕΤ president Marios Trivizas said that he had received assurances that this issue would be resolved soon, either through legislation or other appropriate means.
Trivizas said the minister shared the tourist industry's concern over this issue, especially the need to resolve it before the start of the tourist season.
Although eastern Europeans have shown a growing interest in Greece as a tourist destination, the Greek tourism industry faces several obstacle in developing these markets. These obstacles include the visa requirements of countries that are not members of the Schengen agreement, plus the ban on hiring guides from these countries to receive and assist tour groups. There have also been incidents of arrests of tour group members.
Trivizas was accompanied at the meeting by Yiorgos Loukas, president of the association of Corfu travel operators; Stamatis Voukouvalidis, president of the association of Cos travel operators; and Υ. Apostolopoulos of the tour operators' federation.

BLUE STAR REPORTS 2002 INCREASE
Blue Star Ferries has reported a 28.46 increase in passenger traffic on its Dodecanese line between July 22 and December 31, when the Blue Star 1 began serving this route. The number of passenger vehicles rose 3.45 percent and commercial vehicles rose 3.36 percent during the same period.
The company said that during this period, Blue Star 1 carried 102,245 passengers, 14,980 private cars, and 7,542 trucks from Piraeus to the Dodecanese, figures that represent market shares of 31.55, 32.02, and 32.34 percent, respectively, on this route.
Total passengers on the Piraeus-Dodecanese route rose by 150,178 passengers, of which 108,245 were carried by Blue Star 1, which covered 72.08 percent of the passenger increase.

ΕΟΤ PRESIDENT CHAIRS TOURISM MEETING
Ioannis Patellis, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), chaired a meeting of the leaders of tourist industry associations to exchange views on the prospects for the season and discuss strategies for Greek tourism.
The meeting focused on the possible impact on Greek tourism of a war in Iraq, as well as the prospects from the accession of ten new countries to the European Union.
Patellis and the industry representatives also agreed to meet more regularly as a group for such exchanges.

HIGH QUALITY SPORTSWEAR LICENSED FOR OLYMPICS
High Quality Sportswear is the exclusive Olympic license holder for leisure wear and accessories, and its products are now available through more than 1,000 licensed outlets and Olympic Stores, the company's development director Kostas Tsigaridas said in an interview on the TV show Business & Travel.
He said that High Quality Sportswear sales had reached 7.5 billion drachmas in its first two years, and are expected to exceed 16 billion drachmas and 32 billion drachmas, respectively, in 2003 and 2004.

CZECH AIRLINE MOVES INTO NEW PREMISES
The Czech carrier CSA celebrated its 80th year of operation and 55th year in Greece by moving into new premises in Argyroupoli, a suburb of Athens.
Czech Airlines officially inaugurated its new office in Athens with a cocktail reception attended by leading representatives of the local travel industry.

TSOHATZOPOULOS SAYS FEWER TOURISTS,BUT MORE REVENUES IN 2002
Greece had a good year in tourism in 2002, despite the dire projections, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told reporters at a press briefing on tourism issues.
He said that data provided by the Bank of Greece showed that revenues from tourism rose by one percent in 2002, which indicates that efforts aimed at improving the Greek tourist product have succeeded despite an overall one percent drop in the number of tourist arrivals.
He said that the main priority for tourism policy was to improve the competitiveness of the Greek market, which means improving infrastructure aimed at supporting a full range of travel options, from hotels to camping grounds. He said this effort was supported by a range of programs aimed at fostering closer cooperation between the private and public sectors. One such measure, he said, was the National Tourism Council.
Tsohatzopoulos said another priority was creating an agency or council to coordinate tourist promotion, advertising, and marketing abroad. He said that the ministry was also working closely with Democritus in developing a tourism portal on the internet to support and promote electronic business in the sector.

TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT
Greece's environment-friendly energy production was highlighted by Ioannis Patellis, head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ), in a speech at the conference on tourism and the environment.
Patellis said that a recent European Union survey on the impact of tourism on the environment found that energy consumption in the southern Aegean is 1.8 megawatt hours per resident and is higher than that of the Cote d'Azur (1.1 megawatt hours).
The conference focused on the importance of energy in sustainable tourist development, and was addressed by Greek and international speakers.

GOLDAIR TO REPRESENT IRANAIR IN GREECE
Goldair has signed a representation agreement with IranAir and will be the Middle Eastern airline's exclusive representative in Greece.
IranAir flies to 33 international destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East. In 2001, it carried over 7.5 million passengers, a two percent increase over the previous year. The carrier had a 72.6 percent capacity in 2001.
The airline has a 74 percent market share of domestic destinations and a 55.5 percent market share of international flights from Iran. Its fleet is comprised of 31 Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
IranAir has direct connections between Athens and Tehran once a week, on Saturday.

CASINOS ALSO ATTRACT NON-PLAYERS
Nearly one-third of visitors to Greece's casinos are not at the casino for gambling but for entertainment, Thales Koutoupis, communications advisor to the Loutraki Casino, said in an interview with the television show Business & Travel.
He said that nearly 27 percent of the casino's visitors were not players. Roughly 26,000 people visited the casino during the New Year's holidays.

ETA IS VEHICLE FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT
Hellenic Tourist Properties (ΕΤΑ) is an important vehicle for promoting private investment in the tourism sector, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said.
He said ΕΤΑ was responsible for managing the Greek National Tourism Organization's properties and that the government was interested in promoting immediate private investment, from Greek or foreign capital, in the tourist market.
He said tenders had already been completed for the public beaches along the southern coastal suburbs of Athens, which will provide a guaranteed annual income of 2.5 million euros for ΕΤΑ.
He said the agency was also managing other state-owned tourist properties such as the Mon Parnes Casino, Lycabettus, and the Afandou Golf Course on Rhodes, in which various types of investment were being sought.
Tsohatzopoulos also referred to Agrotouristiki, a subsidiary of ΕΤΑ that was an important vehicle for regional development through ecotourism or agrotourism. He said specific programs would be announced after July 2003.

FACILITY UPGRADES IN 2002
The Development Ministry has already approved and allocated two million euros for tourist facility upgrades under Law 2601, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told reporters.
He said 1,313 enterprises from the tourism sector had been approved to receive funds under this program.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE IRISH MARKET
Irish and British tour operators believe Greece is emerging as one of the more dynamic tourist markets and projected increases of between 10 and 15 percent in arrivals from these countries in 2003.
This positive news comes from the Holiday World travel trade show held in Dublin from January 23-26.
According to tour operator data, tourist arrivals from Ireland in 2002 were estimated at over 85,000. For 2003, the large Irish tour operators have already planned flights to Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Zakynthos, and Kefallonia.

DEVELOPING THE SPANISH MARKET
Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos flew to Spain in late January to attend the international trade show Fitour 2003 in Madrid.
During his trip, Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism, also met with the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization with whom he discussed the impact on tourism of a possible war in Iraq.
Spain has emerged as an important market for Greece, with an estimated 150,000 arrivals expected in 2003.

WOMEN ΙΝ TOURISM CUT NEW YEAR’S ΡΙΤΑ
The Women In Tourism held the cutting of the traditional New Year's pita on January 30 at the Museum Hotel, near the National Archaeological Museum in downtown Athens. The event was attended by Women In Tourism president Ε. Mantzavelaki-Vassilopoulou and general secretary Υ. Bartzou.

BA REVAMPS WEBSITE
British Airways recently launched a completely redesigned website aimed at making surfing easier for travellers.
Α new feature allows travellers to make bookings online directly from the home page, rather than by following a series of links.
The site also provides easy access to e-ticketing services, promotions, and other information.
"Our strategy regarding the internet aims at improving service to clients as well as facilitating the work of [the airline's] human resources," said Vassilis Dallaris, general manager of British Airways in Greece. "British Airways has a long tradition in implementing new, innovative ideas."
To access British Airways in Greece, go to www.britishairways.com, then click on the desired country.
British Airways maintains 93 country sites in 33 languages, while its web page has an average 2.7 million visitors per month.

POSITIVE FEEL FROM 2002
The global tourist industry fared quite well in 2002, according to assessments by the general-secretary of the World Tourism Organization Francesco Frangialli.
Frangialli discussed the industry's outlook with Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos at a recent meeting on the sidelines of the Fitour 2003 in Madrid.
He said that travellers had overcome the psychological shock from the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States, despite a dramatic drop in arrivals in countries such as Tunisia and Morocco. Overall, however, he said 2002 recorded a three percent rise in tourist traffic globally, with countries such as Croatia, Turkey, and Bulgaria recording noteworthy increases in arrivals.
Frangialli said a war with Iraq was expected to have a serious impact on tourism in 2003, and the uncertainty over an armed conflict had pushed bookings back, thus giving tour operators add leverage in negotiating prices.

ΕΤΑ TO FORM ECOTOURISM SUBSIDIARY
Hellenic Tourist Properties (ΕΤΑ), the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization, will hand over management and development of ecotourism to a subsidiary, Agrotouristiki S.Α.
The subsidiary will have an initial capital of three million euros, according to Dimitris Dallis, its president and managing director.
The purpose of Agrotouristiki will be to foster regional development by promoting ecotourism and related programs.

WINE TASTING AT THE VASSILIOU ESTATE
The Vassiliou Estate winery has organized a program of wine tours and tasting at its vineyards at Mesogeia in Attica. The tours include the underground cellars where the winery's vintages are aged, as well as degustation of three or four types of wines.
More than 5,000 visitors took the Vassiliou Estate tour in 2002. The winery is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Sunday visits can be arranged. Information about the Ktima Vassiliou is available online at www.vassilioudomaine.gr

GREECE, TURKEY SIGN TOURISM COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Greece and Turkey have signed a protocol on cooperation in promoting tourism in the Aegean.
The protocol was signed by Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Turkish the number of ferryboat routes from Greece's Aegean Sea islands to the Turkish coast.
The protocol follows an agreement earlier this year between ΗΑΤΤΑ, the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents, and its Turkish counterpart, TURSAB, to form four committees to discuss common issues in the tourism sector. The committees will focus on institutional issues and European Union programs, developing tourism from third countries, air travel and vocational training and education.

POESE ON TOURISM COUNCIL
The board of POESE, the Panhellenic Federation of Restaurateurs and Related Professions, was invited to participate for the first time ever in the National Tourism Council, which met in February.
POESE members expressed their satisfaction at being included in this important policy and coordinating committee.

IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OUTLOOK ON GREECE ASSESSED
The performance of the European tourism industry in 2003 will depend on four factors, according to the assessments by leading industry analysts.
These factors are the duration and intensity of a possible war in Iraq; the price of oil; the speed with which the economies of the U.S. and other leading industrial economies such as Germany, France, and Japan rebound; and, how quickly consumer and business confidence in the economy is restored.
These factors were outlined in a "Global Travel Trends 2003" report prepared by the European Travel Commission. Their impact on the Greek market was examined during the meeting of the National Tourism Council.
The council also examined other global assessments, including those by the World Tourism Council which projected an increase in global tourism of between three and four percent in 2004. Foreign travel by American and Japanese tourists was also expected to increase in 2003 and 2004, while a positive development was also the opening of international travel markets to tourists from China.
Other global trends identified in these reports include a tendency towards shorter, but more frequent vacations; a turn towards low-cost, no-frills air travel by companies like EasyJet and Ryanair; greater use of the internet for bookings; greater demand for new experiences and nature travel; increase in the number of outbound tourism in the 45+ age group from western Europe and Japan.
For Greece, the 2004 Olympic Games are expected to be the main lever for developing tourism, with focus on Athens and other Olympic cities - Thessaloniki, Patras, Iraklio, and Volos - as well as ancient Olympia. It is, however, difficult to predict the precise number of spectators for the Games, although total tourist arrivals in 2004 is expected to reach, or possibly exceed, 15 million visitors.
Greece's increased visibility during the Games is also considered an opportunity to promote tourism and improve the country's image.

ΗΑΤΤΑ CALLS FOR REFORM, ETHICS CODE
ΗΑΤΤΑ, the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents, has called for the need to reform the institutional framework governing tourist enterprises and travel agents, as well as for establishing a code of business ethics for travel professionals.
ΗΑΤΤΑ president Yiannis Evangelou told reporters that reforms were necessary to improve services in a matured Greek market, included changes in the way travel agents are licensed, certified, and monitored.
He said ΗΑΤΤΑ proposed that a special mechanism be created with the soon-to-be formed Tourism Chamber to manage these issues and curb activity of the so-called black travel market, or unlicensed operators.
He said ΗΑΤΤΑ was also studying the idea of creating a code of business ethics for the travel sector that would apply to agents and suppliers, including hotels and cruise liners. Such a code would be in line with the business ethics code between ECTAA, ΗΑΤΤΑ's Europe-wide counterpart, and HOTREC.
During the briefing, Evangelou emphasized the need for development incentives to support and enhance the function of Greek travel agents and operators.

GREECE A HIT AT LOS ANGELES SHOW
Greece made quite an impression at the Los Angeles Travel Show held in early February at Long Beach, California.
The Greek National Tourism Organization was a sponsor of the show, which drew more than 13,000 visitors.
California is the second largest U.S. market after New York.
The Greek pavilion featured Cruise Med, Olympic Yacht Charterers, Royal Olympia Cruises, European Tours, Greek Hotel and Cruise Reservation Center, Homeric Tours, MC & Ulysses Tours, and other participants.

ATTENDANTS BLAME GOVERNMENT FOR OA WOES
Stavros Yiannopoulos, president of the Greek flight attendants' union EISF, said that government policy was to blame for the mistakes in managing Greece's national carrier, Olympic Airways.
He said mistakes had been made by both the current transport minister, Christos Verelis, and his predecessor Tassos Mandelis.
Yiannopoulos's remarks were made during an interview on the television show "Business and Travel."
He said that their management practices had created a sense of insecurity among Olympic Airways employees, who were concerned about the carrier's downsizing. He claimed that Olympics's fleet had been reduced by eleven Β-737-200 aircraft in the past two years, thus denuding the airline.
He added that the inducements being offered to Olympic Airways employees for early retirement suggested that the "New Olympic" would operate at the expense of Greece's national interests and the 2004 Olympic Games.

TOURIST CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN MAY
Greece will host two high-level conferences in May to focus on the links between tourism and transport and tourism and culture.
The conferences will be held in May on the island of Crete as part of Greece's European Union presidency.

TOURISM COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL PEACE
Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the National Tourism Council had decided to send an appeal to the United Nations and other international organizations urging that every possible means be used to avert a war in Iraq.
He said the geopolitical uncertainty had created uncertainty in the global tourism market and low expectations for 2003.
Despite the continuing fallout from the September 11 terrorist attack on the U.S., Tsohatzopoulos said that 2002 had proven the market's resilience as Greek tourism had noted a slight decline, between 1.5 and 2 percent in the number of arrivals but a one percent increase in revenues from tourism.
He said the National Tourism Council had agreed that implementing the new law on tourism training was a priority, as well as support of investment programs and incentives in the tourism sector. Hellenic Tourism Properties (ΕΤΑ), the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization, would play an important role in this area.
Tsohatzopoulos said that National Tourism Council had agreed to support its work with a tourism board comprised of between five and seven staff experts, and that a second meeting would be held after Easter to assess specific strategies for the year.
He said that other issues raised during the meeting included the creation of a Tourism Chamber, which would be resolved within the first six months of 2003. Other issues discussed at the meeting included monitoring accommodations and the issue of the ΕΟΤ sign to approved hotels and inns.

LUXEMBOURG CHOOSES GREEK DESTINATIONS
Luxair, the largest tour operator in Luxembourg, is featuring packages on the islands of Corfu, Rhodes, and Crete this year.
The destinations were promoted at the Luxair pavilion at Vakanz 2003, the annual trade show held in Des Fil, Luxembourg. The Greek National Tourism Organization was also represented at the show.
In 2002, 14,413 tourists visited Greece on Luxair holiday packages. The largest number - 5,560 - went to Iraklio, Crete, while 4,960 visited Rhodes, and 3,893 visited Corfu.
Luxair's holiday packages for 2003 feature two hotels in Crete and Rhodes, and three hotels on Corfu.

TOURIST PANORAMA TO BE HELD MARCH 28-31
Over 40,000 visitors are expected to visit this year's Tourist Panorama to be held at the OLP exhibition center in Piraeus from March 28-31.
This year's travel show will highlight the Ionian islands.
This will be the eighth Tourist Panorama. Exhibitors include the Greek National Tourism Organization, regional tourist boards, industry chambers, travel and tour operators, as well as companies involved in alternate tourism as well as tourist training.

GREECE TO UPGRADE BORDER POSTS
Greece will spend six million euros over the next 18 months to improve facilities at its five border posts in anticipation of an increased number of overland arrivals for the 2004 Olympics Games.
The frontier posts are managed by Hellenic Tourist Properties, the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization. Officials said the improvements would transform the border posts into "Olympic Gateways" aimed at creating a positive first impression of Greece.
Work is due to begin in March at the Evzones entry customs and immigration station on the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and will be completed by September. Work at the other four border posts - Promahonas, Kipoi, Kakavia, and Niki - is also scheduled to begin before the end of this year. These works will combine cosmetic upgrades like new signs with practical improvements such as separate incoming and outgoing lanes.
In addition to customs and immigration checkpoints, the frontier posts will include amenities such as currency exchange bureau or bank, public phones, and post office. The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) will also staff a small information bureau at Evzones on a pilot basis.

MOBILE SOLUTIONS FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
Α conference entitled "Crisis Management-Mobile Solutions" will be held in Athens on April 9, organized by the School of Chemical Engineering of the National Polytechnic University.
The conference will look at crisis management solutions through wireless applications and mobile telephony.

TOURISM HITS RECORD HIGH IN 2002
International tourism hit a record high in 2002 despite all fears of terrorism especially in flying, according to the World Tourism Organization. For the first time some 710 million travellers were recorded as international tourist arrivals, albeit the greater majority in short trips by train, bus and car.
The total represents a 3.1 percent (some 22 million) increase from 2001, when due to the September 11 attacks there was a drop of close to one percent.
France remained as the world’s most popular destination for international travellers, with an estimated 76.7 million arrivals recorded.

DASKALANTONAKIS GROUP WINS PARAOLYMPIC CATERING BID
The catering tender for the Paraolympic Village has been awarded to a joint bid submitted by the Nikos Daskalantonakis Group and the U.S.-based Aramark Group.
The two companies have been awarded the contract to provide nutritional support to the largest Olympic Village in history, where 35,000 people will be houses. An estimated two million meals will be served at the Olympic Village during the sixty-day period spanning the 2004 Olympic Games and the Paraolympic Games, which will also be held in Athens.
The menus will be built around the traditional Mediterranean diet, using local produce.
"We chose the best," said Makis Fokas, the food and beverage director for the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee. "The Daskalantonakis Group, Greece's largest hotel group, specializes in hospitality services. The Aramark Group has tremendous experience - this is the 13th Games it is participating in. We are thus assured of the high quality of service that will be provided to the Athens 2004 Games."
The Daskalantonakis Group owns the Grecotel hotel chain.

SERVICE KEY TO TOURISM MARKET, SAYS EXECUTIVE
High levels of organization and good service are prerequisites for developing business travel and the tourism market, a senior travel executive said in an interview with the television program "Business and Travel."
Constantine Giokas, general manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, also discussed the conclusions of a report compiled by his company on the outlook for the tourism industry in 2003. He said low-cost carriers were expected to have a long-lasting effect on the market as even business travellers turned towards these carriers as a way of cutting operating costs. The report also projected that online bookings could grow to 30 percent of all European bookings by the year 2006.

MESSINIA HOSTS TOURISM CONFERENCE
The problems and prospects of tourist development in the Peloponnese province of Messinia were the focus of a recent conference organized in Kalamata. The conference was organized by iForce.
Kostas Zaimis, president of the Institute for the Development of Western Greece, cited the lack of infrastructure as one of the main obstacles towards the region's development, and called for closer cooperation between the private sector, local authorities, and the state in promoting the region.
Messinia Prefect Dimitris Drakos also focused on infrastructure, citing as examples the lack of maintenance at the fortifications of Methoni and Koroni, as well as the recent collapse of two segments of the Corinth-Kalamata highway that will deepen the area's isolation.
Their claims were countered by Kostas Katsiyiannis, general manager of the Greek National Tourism Organization, who referred to the Development Ministry funds available to the tourism sector for improvements as well as policies implemented by the government to counter the negative impact on global tourism from the September 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. and the slowdown in the global economy.
Other speakers highlighted ranging from high tax rates, programs aimed at promoting Greece as a tourist destination, marine tourism, and ecotourism.

ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER AT ATHENS AIRPORT
Travellers will be able to obtain information about environmental protection at the new Environmental Information Center established at the Athens International Airport.
Located in the main terminal building, the center was established as part of the Athens International Airport's efforts to foster greater public awareness about environmental issues. The center will also highlight the systems that the airport uses to protect the environment and control or contain factors that could have an impact on the environment.
The center features a multimedia information display, including photographs and video.

SPORTS FAN CUT NEW YEAR’S ΡΙΤΑ
The Panhellenic Union of Sports Fans held its annual New Year pita-cutting event at the St George Lycabettus Hotel in central Athens. The reception was attended by Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, a former running champion and mayor of Thessaloniki; businessman Isidoros Kouvelos; sportscaster Yiannis Diakoyiannis; and various other athletes and dignitaries from the sports world.
Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni and several members of parliament were also in attendance.
The St George Lycabettus is located at the foothills of the Lycabettus Hill on the northern rim of Kolonaki's.

GREECE, ITALY ΤΟ COOPERATE ΙΝ TOURISM
Greece and Italy have agreed to work together more closely to promote tourism issues, the Development Ministry said in a statement.
It said Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism, had met with his Italian counterpart Stefano Stefani on the sidelines of the annual tourism expo in Milan to discuss cooperation in tourism.
The talks focused on developing religious tourism through a program known as "the footsteps of Saint Paul." The tour is based on the route taken by Saint Paul as he preached Christianity.
This program has already been discussed within the Development Ministry. It will be presented to the meeting of the Council of European Churches in Norway this June by the Greek EU Presidency. The route will also be presented at a tourism conference in Moscow at the end of March.
During their meeting, Greek and Italian officials also discussed the prospect of developing joint tour packages and programs aimed at tourists from distant destinations such as the United States, Japan, and China. They also discussed the issue of applying VAT on tourist services. According to the statement, the Italian side agreed with the Greek proposal for a uniform tax in all EU countries.
Georgakopoulos and other Greek officials also met with representatives of Italian tour operators, who expressed confidence that tourist flow to Greece would be positive in 2003.

GREECE PROPOSES AIRLINE PROTECTION PLAN
Greece, which holds the rotating European Union presidency until the end of June, has put forth a proposal aimed at protecting European airlines from unfair practices by non-EU carriers. The proposal was prompted by what the Greek presidency said was a significant void in existing legislation on airline operation.
The Athens News Agency reported that under the Greek proposal, carriers based in European Union member-states that faced unfair competition from third-country carriers that receive government subsidies or supports in various forms. Under EU law, European carriers may not receive any type of government aid.
Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis said the Greek proposal would allow the European Union to take measures against non-EU carriers that receive state financial assistance or adopt unfair ticketing or fare structure practices.

ATHENS HILTON REOPENS AFTER RENOVATIONS
The Athens Hilton, one of the Greek capital's landmarks, has reopened for business after extensive renovations. The first visitors to survey the hotel's refurbished interiors were Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, whose portfolio includes tourism, and Yiannis Kostopoulos, president of Ioniki Hotel Enterprises and the Alpha Bank Group of Companies.
"We are particularly pleased that after the radical renovation and upgrading of its interior and exterior spaces, the Athens Hilton is returning dynamically to the place it held in all our hearts," Kostopoulos said.
He added that just as the Athens Hilton had ushered in a new era in hospitality when it first opened in Athens in 1963, the renovated hotel is as important a milestone in the history of Greek tourism.
Peter Van der Villet, vice president of Hilton International for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, said that the Athens Hilton was the first multinational hotel to open in Greece. It has since established itself as the definition of the "hotel experience" in the mind of the Greek public, he added.
The extensive renovations have extended the use of natural light in lounges and other common areas. All interior spaces and rooms have been completely refurbished. Α new wing with 74 new rooms has been added, bringing the total number of rooms to 517. The refurbished hotel features 119 rooms on the Executive Floor, which has its own reception and clubroom.
The Athens Hilton will operate with four restaurants and two bars, meeting facilities with their own 6,000-square-meter business center. The open-air swimming pool - the largest in Athens - has been completely renovated and enhanced with the addition of a 1,200-square-meter fitness center that includes an indoor swimming pool.
Parking facilities have also been expanded, while the ballroom has been completely transformed. Reception areas include the famed Terpsichore Room, which has hosted some of the most glittering galas in modern Greek history. Other favourite haunts include the Byzantine Cafe and the rooftop Galaxy Bar, which boasts the "best view of the city."
The Athens Hilton's renovation was overseen by the internationally-acclaimed Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis in cooperation with the AETER Architects S.Α.-Harry Κ. Bougadelis, the interior designers Bilkey Lines Design Associates Inc, and the construction firm Elliniki Technodomiki.

GREECE MAKES GOOD APPEARANCE ΑΤ MILAN
Greek officials expressed satisfaction at the results from the annual ΒΙΤ tourism trade show held in Milan.
Ioannis Patellis, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) held talks during the show with leading Italian tour operators such as Club Vacance, Comitours, Going, Gruppo, Alpi Tours, and Viaggi. Α statement issued by the Development Ministry, which has responsibility for the tourism portfolio, said the Italian agents had indicated that they expected a ten percent increase in tourists from Italy to Greece in 2003, with the first groups expected to arrive in Crete in April.
The ΕΟΤ pavilion at the show occupied 800 square meters. It featured stalls by 28 regional authorities and tourist enterprises. After Milan, ΕΟΤ has organized a seven-city road show in cooperation with Greece's leading hotels.

UPS, GOLDAIR SIGN DEAL
UPS and Goldair have signed a cooperation agreement in commercial freight, the airline has announced.
Manolis Anagnostou, Goldair's head of sales, said that the cooperation agreement would significantly reinforce the transportation of Greek merchandise both to and from Europe as well as to and from global destinations. The deal, he added, would also reinforce the position of Athens as a hub for transport and freight to the Balkans and Turkey.
UPS was established in Seattle 96 years ago and is known worldwide as one of the leading courier companies. It is also active in transporting merchandise. UPS has a fleet of 256 aircraft and employs 360,000 people, including 40,000 outside the United States. The company serves 7.9 million customers daily, with 1,062 flights within the U.S. and 828 international flights.
UPS has five routes to Athens per week. The company’s international network covers more than 200 global destinations.

From My Notebook. By Connie Soloyanis
- Among the newer delights for adventurous tourists are visits to ghost towns, such as Bodie, California, once a thriving gold mine center, and former diamond towns, such as in Nambia, which are said to still have diamonds in the sand for the picking.
- The world’s busiest airports are ranked as London’s Heathrow as tops (and planning a fifth terminal), Atlanta’s Hartsfield, Tokyo’s Honeda and Chicago’s Ο’Hare.
- Locals are wondering which of the Greek shipping tycoons will be the first to own the planned new Cadillac car priced at $200,000. General Motors is introducing this new 1,000 horsepower super luxury automobile to outdo the Rolls Royce.
- While Internet shopping sales increased some ten percent last year (over 2001) the number of Internet shoppers remained constant.
- Estimates are that business hotel bookings by Internet connections will number over 25 percent of overall reservations by 2005.
- Meanwhile Internet has become one possibility for public voting. Credit Switzerland for the first such balloting possibility. And, in the U.S.Α., Internet may be used to file income tax returns.
- China has become second in the world in number of Internet users (easing ahead of Japan) with some 60 million reported. The U.S.Α. is tops, with an estimated 170 million users. Greece has close to two million users.
- Somewhat following the lead of Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branston in diversifying, Stelios Hadji-Ioannou of EasyJet is planning a series of EasyJet cinemas with admission as low as 20 cents if tickets are booked over Internet for special screenings. The Cypriot already has a chain of Internet cafιs- Virgin, incidentally, has some 50 different businesses, including such as financial guidance programs.
- Α bad tourist season is forecast for Spain with Basque “separatist” terrorists sending notices to embassies and tour operators to advise would-be tourists of “risks” to visiting Spain.
- International travel prospects are dim, with as much as a 70 percent decline anticipated in some areas. In this period of turmoil tourism to Israel is down over 70 percent.
- German tourists, which outnumber all others in the European Union, are now taking their holidays in nearby countries which do not require air travel. Train, bus and car have become the dominant modes of travel.
- In the face of the general downward trend for tourism overall, Turkey registered a 14 percent increase last year, and hosted a new high of 13,2 million tourists.
- This year (on December 17) marks the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
- Greeks who hope that success of the motion picture “My big Fat Greek Wedding” may boost tourism are thrilled to learn that a sequel is planned as well as a television series.