August 2002

Revitalize for revival!
As the current tourist season in Greece winds down, it is time to reflect and revitalize!
The year 2002 has not been the best in the history of tourism to Greece, but it has not been the worst, either! Time for some reflections and revival! It is time to take stock of what tourism in Greece lacks, and to make moves to improve and rectify.
The major annual series of international travel trade shows lies ahead, and Greece in all its aspects must put its best foot forward. And, it would not hurt at all if there might be some higher degree of cooperation among all factors of tourism in Greece. It is all for the common good!
Parallel to cooperation there should also be a degree of upgrading of services, as a step for the much discussed, but mostly missed "quality tourism." Now is the time for those improvements talked about.
The ΗΝΤΟ has announced a more active and bigger participation in the aforementioned various international shows. The private sector must join in wherever possible. The ΗΝΤΟ can 'sell' Greece as a general destination, but the tour operators, travel agencies, hotels and islands as such must delineate detailing. And the more detailing the better.
Selling such relatively new aspects of tourism as cuisine, trekking and biking tours and even golf can expand the tourism horizon for Greece.
The more that is spelled out concerning the glories and enjoyment of Greece, the more appealing the country becomes as a destination.
Individual participation in the world's first online worldwide travel conference (Welcome to Tourism 2002.com) can also be most helpful to all.
With everyone pushing, somewhat collectively and still individually, new tourist arrivals highs can be reached.
Let's make 2003 the first 15,000,000 tourist arrivals year, and add at least another million every year in the future.
Tourism to Greece can be revitalized!



Hellenic Travelling

STRONG ΗΝΤΟ PROMOTION ΙΝ GERMANY FOR 2003
Α strong and concentrated promotion program for Greece has been planned for Germany in 2003, with the ΗΝΤΟ participating in all major travel fairs. Germany is a prime source of tourists for Greece. Major exhibitions have been planned for a dozen shows.
This program includes all of the following:
The Caravan, Motor, Touristik (CMT) in Stuttgart , which this year attracted over 200,000 people with participation of 160 tourist enterprises from 24 countries.
ΒΟΟΤ in Dusseldorf, which specializes in all classes of pleasure boats, which had attendance top 341,000 this year, with 1,666 exhibits from 42 countries.
Reisen in Hamburg, primarily for the general public, had over 100,000 visitors, and 900 exhibitors from 95 countries.
CBR (Caravan-Boot-Reisemarkt) in Munich attracted over 180,000 visitors for some 1,000 exhibitors.
The ΙΤΒ in Berlin, the largest travel show in the world, which was inaugurated back in 1966, this year had some 65,000 professional visitors for some 10,136 exhibitors from 181 countries.
The Interboot in Friedrichshafen, which concentrates on marine sports, this year had some 800 exhibitors from 22 countries, featuring some 1,200 boats.
The TC Touristik & Caravaning in Lipsia, in eastern Germany had one thousand exhibitors from 62 countries.
The Reisemarkt International Koln had 38,000 visitors for its three day run, with 700 exhibitors from 70 countries.
Freizeit Garten+Touristik Nuremburg had some 500 exhibitors from 13 countries.
Reise/Camping Essen, had 850 exhibitors from 35 countries.
ΙΜΕΧ Frankfurt is being organized this year for the first time especially for convention bureaus and incentive travel. Some 1,700 exhibitors from 100 countries are anticipated.
The ΗΝΤΟ is planning participation in all of these travel shows, and encouraging private companies to join the participation.

ΗΝΤΟ GAINS WIDESPREAD EXPOSURE FOR TOURISM ΤΟ GREECE ΙΝ U.S.Α.
Recent efforts of the Hellenic National Tourism Organization (ΗΝΤΟ) have resulted in major exposure for tourism to Greece in major U.S.Α. publications. These efforts have included such as thirteen pages in the Conde Nast Traveller of an article entitled "The Isles That Launched a Thousand Trips" centered on the islands of Santorini and Mykonos; a special edition of Travel and Leisure spotlighted Santorini as the best island of Europe; 26 color pages in Bon Apetit Magazine dedicated to the gastronomy and tourist attributes of the islands of Corfu, Kythira, Samos, Syros, Santorini and Crete; another edition of Travel and Leisure had five pages on the Ionian islands in an article entitled "Best Kept Secrets of the Greek Isles;" articles in JaxFax and Travel Agent magazines, and a full page article with photographs in the New York Times.
In addition there have been some sixteen groups of journalists guided about Greece, including to such areas as Monemvasia, Mystras, Katakolon, Itea, Delphi and the the islands of Aegina, Hydra and Poros, as well as coverage of the Athens Festival. Television programs have been filmed with various themes including the history of ouzo, Mediterranean food, Greek cuisine and others.

MORE RUSSIANS ΤΟ GREECE
Tourist arrivals in Greece from Russia defy the general downtrend, with an increase of some 13.3 percent thus far this year, according to flight data statistics. Prime area for increase of flow of Russians is in the Thessaloniki area where the totals are up some 100 percent.
Regular and charter flights have been to Athens, Herakleion and Chania (in Crete), Corfu, Rhodes, and Thessaloniki. Flights originate in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novisibirsk and Kiev.
The issuance of visas from Greek consular authorities in Russia was up over 113 percent over the same period last year.

URGE HOTELIERS AND TOURISTS ΙΝ GREECE ΤΟ CONSERVE FRESH WATER
The World Wildlife Fund in Greece has distributed notices to the country's 8,500 tourist enterprises, for further distribution to visitors, with tips on saving water. The demand outstrips the supply, the notices advise and conservation is urgently needed.
The worst offence for so-called ' wasting water' is showers

EXPAND MOUNT OLYMPUS 'REFUGE'
Α new wing has been added to the Refuge of Spiros Agapitos on Mount Olympus, where prime visitors are mountain climbers.
The Refuge. situated at some 2,100 meters altitude, has been expanded with a 45 bed capacity. It can now accommodate 110 guests. Operating from May through October, it recorded some 9,000 overnights last year.

REPORT GREEK GOVERNMENT ΤΟ PURCHASE CATAMARAN FERRIES
The Greek Government is reportedly planning to purchase eight catamaran ferry boats to service smaller islands which have no regularly scheduled sailings by the established operating ferry companies. Financing is anticipated from European Union funding projects.
The new vessels, of twin hull variety, are expected to have a cruising speed of 25 knots and be able to travel in winds of up to eight on the Beaufort scale. This new service is expected to commence by 2004, at the earliest.

Α RENAISSANCE FOR ΟΜΟΝΙΑ SQUARE
Omonia Square of Athens has undergone a renaissance. During the last six month period, ending this September, this historic sector has been transformed into primarily a pedestrian's 'green mall,' with said greening totalling 17 acres in area.
The circular vehicular traffic, which previously dominated the square, has been eliminated. Avenues leading into the area have become one-way, to help limit overall traffic.
Parallel to these changes, there has been a 'cleaning up' program of all the historic buildings situated in the area.
General plan has been to make the sector similar to what it resembled back in the 1830s, when it was considered the center of the city of Athens. Then it was primarily a promenade.
One government minister described the change as "Restoring Omonia's original character as a pedestrian-friendly area in the heart of a commercial district."

ARGO-TOURISM CELEBRATION ΙΝ GREECE
The first argo-tourism celebration in Greece, a pilot program, was centered at ancient Olympia. There was a four day descent of the Alfieos River, beginning in Karytena and ending at Olympia. Enroute there were various river events, including parties and a performance of the Athens Festival production of the ancient tragedy by Sophocles' "Electra."
Plans are underway for another, similar, enhanced program for 2003, and then, 2004. These will expand the area of the program to include the mountainous regions of Arcadia, Achaia, Messina, with the Afleios river as the basic axis.

WORLD'S FIRST MILITARY ΤΗΕΜΕ PARK ΙΝ CHINA
The world's first military theme park is being created in Tianjin, a city near Bejing. The Chinese Government has budgeted some 600 million US dollars for the project.
Center of attraction is to be the former Soviet Union aircraft carrier the Kiev, which has been a key tourist attraction since it was brought to China last year, with some one million visitors recorded. It was once labeled "a lion on the sea."
The park will be comprised of seven square kilometres, and include a huge expanse of water.
Α wide range of weaponry used by air, land and marine forces are to be on display.

ΗΝΤΟ EXPANDS INSPECTIONS FOR HANDICAPPED TOURISTS
The Hellenic National Tourism Organization (ΗΝΤΟ) is expanding its inspection of tourist services for visitors with special needs. Inspectors now check for facilities for the handicapped.
These include special access ramps and reservations of areas in public spaces, including car parking slots. In addition to hotels and airports the inspections include museums, archaeological sites, marinas and various modes of transportation.

KLM INTRODUCES UNRULY PASSENGER WATCHLIST
KLM is introducing a Watchlist for Unruly Passengers. Passengers who jeopardize safety on board or mistreat KLM personnel will be put on this listing, which is to be introduced into the airline's reservations systems.
The Watchlist will have a No Fly List, which would bar passengers who engage in gross misconduct from all KLM flights for a five year period.
KLM partners in air alliance are studying the new policy for the possibility of introducing similar ones.

ASTA FIGHTS AGAINST AIRLINE ACTIONS
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and a consortium of airlines are embroiled in a suit before the U.S. Department of Transportation in which the travel agents claim the airline respondents "want to eliminate travel agents from the market place as an effective competition force for the patronage of consumers by reducing their compensation and raising their costs."
Initial complaint filed by ASTA was against Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, America West Airlines, American Trans Air, Air Canada and Orbitz, the airlines retail outlet.

ΙΑΤΑ AIR TRANSPORT STATISTICS 2001
ΙΑΤΑ's record of travel statistics of its some 200 member airlines has been issued. It presents a complete statistic picture of the year 2001, the worst in the history of air travel.
Overall ΙΑΤΑ member airlines carried 1.35 billion passengers on scheduled flights in 2001, representing a decline of 3.3. percent on 2000. Average passenger load factor was 70.3 percent. Cargo carriage fell by seven percent.
The combination of reduced traffic and rising costs resulted in a net loss of US$12 billion on international services.

WTO SLATED ΤΟ BECOME AGENCY OF ΤΗΕ UNITED NATIONS
Negotiations are underway between the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations to 'convert' the WTO into a UN agency.
Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the WTO, issued a relevant statement:
"This recognition acknowledges that travel, leisure and tourism constitute a powerful part of modern society that cannot be ignored....The transformation of the WTO will achieve greater visibility that would prompt governments to pay increased attention to the industry."

NEW BRITISH LOW-COST AIRLINE
Α new British low-cost airline is being organized. My Travel Group, one of Great Britain's largest travel companies, announced the formation of MyTravelLite.
This new airline will initially operate, as of October 1, with two 180-seat Airbus 320 jet aircraft.
Base is to be Birmingham to five destinations, Alicante and Malaga in Spain, Geneva, Paris and Belfast.

ATHENAEUM INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL UNDERGOING COMPLETE RENOVATION
The Athenaeum InterContinental Hotel, which started operation in 1982, has been undergoing a complete renovation, to be completed by March of 2003. The renovations have been budgeted at some 25 million euros.
All 543 rooms and 54 suites have been refurbished, and an exclusive Club InterContinental (comprised of 61 rooms and 18 suites) has been established on the 8th and 9th floors. There has also been the creation of the Athenaeum Conference Center.
The popular Pergola restaurant is being redesigned as well as the Cafe Vienna located in the lobby, and the reception and other public areas.

ΑΡΡΟΙΝΤ PLOTIN GSA FOR TAROM
The Plotin Air Company has been appointed general sales agency for TAROM, the Romanian national air carrier. The airline links Athens with Bucharest with a daily flight schedule, with Boeing 737-300/700 aircraft. Thessaloniki has ATR42 aircraft for flights to Bucharest five times a week.
Plotin Air has hopes of further developing traffic to increase the number of scheduled flights between Greece and Romania.
Plotin Air also represents Condor German Airlines and Aerolloyd in Greece.

BLUE STAR OFFERS NEW SCHEDULE ΤΟ DODECANESE ISLANDS
Blue Star Ferries has announced the itinerary of F/Β Blue Star 1 linking the port of Piraeus with the Dodecanese islands of Kos, Rhodes, Patmos and Leros. The new speedboat has a capacity for 1,600 passengers plus 700 private automobiles, or 150 trucks and 100 private cars.
Facilities on board include a self-service restaurant, a night club, bars, shops, pool, playground and reclining seats.

ΗΝΤΟ INVITES TOURIST OPERATORS ΤΟ SHARE ΙΝ EU FUNDS OF 127 MILLION EUROS
The Hellenic National Tourism Organization (ΗΝΤΟ) has announced investment subsidies for small and medium-sized tourism operators, with funds being provided by the European Union. The funds, available from this year through 2006, total 127 million euros.
Applications are being accepted by the ΗΝΤΟ, with details available from the ΗΝΤΟ head offices at 2b Amerikis Street in Athens, and on its website at http://www.gnto.gr.

EASYJET AND GO COMBINE ΙΝ SUMMER 2003
Easyjet, the no frills airline created by a Cypriot shipowner's son, has acquired GO, the British Airways no-frills operation, with announced scheduled of becoming one operation (to be called Easyjet) by the summer of 2003.
The combined airline will have a fleet of 62 aircraft (35 Easyjet and 27 GO), 85 routes (45 Easyjet and 40 Go) and combined passenger traffic of some 13.7 million a year.
The two companies, to continue operating separately through the end of this year, have mostly complimentary route structures. They both presently focus on high frequency between major cities.

MADI TRAVEL MARKET ΙΝ PRAGUE ΟΝ SCHEDULE FOR EARLY NOVEMBER
The MADI Travel Market, largest event of the travel industry of central-eastern Europe market, is preparing for its 9th edition, to be held in Prague November 5 to 7. Electricity and communication with the outside world have been restored after the recent disastrous flooding.
All well-known tourist attractions, including the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle, resisted the flood waters.
MADI is also the largest business event of incoming tourism to the Czech Republic.

ORGANIZE WORLD'S FIRST ONLINE CONFERENCE "WELCOME ΤΟ TOURISM 2002"
The first ever worldwide online conference, called Welcome to Tourism-2002.com, is being organized for a two week period this fall, from November 25 to December 6. The organizer of this unusual event is the Chartered Institute of Marketing, based in the U.Κ. Greece is officially represented by Hellenic Travelling, the leading travel publication in Greece.
The conference is similar to others held except that it is all on the Internet. This is an effective way to have large numbers of people who have skills, knowledge and experience on various subjects to present a series of lectures and white paper contributions.
Key issues within the tourism and travel industry to be highlighted for discussion include Tourism & Crisis, Effects on the Environment, the Changing Face of Tourism, Education and Training, Ε-Tourism & Technology, Legislation and Funding, and Regional and Local Tourism. Prominent figures in the travel industry, including government ministers, are to make various presentations and viewpoints.
All this is most effective without sacrificing any time for travel, or time away from the office, and no costs for travel, registrations and accommodations. Further, there need not be any missed presentations, as all is available online. There is also the convenience of viewing exhibition stands without crowds and any specific time schedules.
Α 60-page Conference Guide, in full color, is being published, to be mailed, free of charge, to all the 10,000 delegates anticipated to be participating in the conference. Each contribution to the conference consists of an abstract, biography and photograph, all available online.
During the conference period everyone has equal exposure without the normal costs of space rental, construction of exhibition and personnel. Further convenience for attending.
Welcome to Tourism 2002.com is that individual appointments with executives can be made individually and at convenience. It also has the convenience that since visitors can view any exhibition at leisure, there is more concentration on individual presentations.
CIM, basically a non-profit organization, serves as the forum for professional debates on marketing matters related to the travel industry.
For further information: Tel. 010 9940109
Fax. 0109936564, e-mail: info@travelling.gr

TUI ΤΟ START NEW AIRLINE
TUI, the outstanding German tour operator, has announced plans to start its own low-cost airline before the end of this year. The no-frills airline would have the Bonn-Cologne airport as its base.

NEW GENERAL MANAGER FOR ΗΥΑΤΤ REGENCY THESSALONIKI
Jurgen von Massow has been appointed as the new general manager of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki. His last previous assignment within the hotel chain had been at the Hyatt Regency Acapulco, a deluxe resort of 640 rooms.
He has also served at Hyatt hotels in Germany, Great Britain, Jakarta, Belgium, United Arab States of Emirates, Mexico and Indonesia.
Von Massow's only previous familiarization of Greece has been on holidays.

'AIR MILES' PROVIDES ALL AIR SERVICES
Air Miles, a Greek company, supplies complete air services to those who would charter an airplane. Among these services are included complete air charter management, sub charters, landing permissions, aircraft leases, aircrew for short and long term lease, airline consultancy, airlines representations, and airline software solutions. In addition there is a special cargo division.
The company works with a 24 hour hotline service.
Policy of Air Miles is "any plane, any time, any way you desire!"

US AIRWAYS RESTRUCTURING
US Airways has secured commitments, which permit it to keep operating its regular schedule of flights. It has commitments for $500 million financing from the Credit Suisse First Boston and Bank of America Corporation. This is addition to a one billion dollar collateralised loan backed by the U.S. federal government.
The airline has filed for bankruptcy protection, listing assets of approximately $7.81 billion and liabilities of approximately $7.83 billion. Operating revenues for US Airways for the year ending December 31, 2001 were approximately $8.3 billion.
US Airways was the hardest hit of U.S. airlines by the aftermath of the September 11 debacle. The prolonged closure of Washington Reagan National Airport, higher security costs, the general economic recession, and the cutback in air travel, all contributed significantly to the airline's financial losses.
U.S. Airways has also entered into an alliance with United Airlines on codeshare agreements, which allow passengers to book tickets on both carriers to a wide array of destinations, as well as access to both air carriers' frequent flier programs and airport lounges.
The new alliance with United helps the airline expand beyond its prime focus on the eastern U.S.Α. and the Caribbean.
Parallel to this, US Airways has successfully negotiated cost-savings from many of its employee groups.
U.S. Airways operates the seventh largest airline in the U.S.Α., and the 14th worldwide, with approxi8mately 40,000 employees. The airline carried some 56 million passengers last year to some 200 destinations in 38 states of the U.S.Α.

STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS APPOINTS COMPANY VETERANS ΤΟ NEW ROLES
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that several veteran senior executives have been appointed to new positions within the organization. Ted Darnall, currently President, North America, has been named President, Starwood Real Estate, and Geoff Ballotti, Senior Vice President of Southern Europe, has been appointed Executive Vice President, Hotel Operations for North America.
In his new role, Darnall, a 24-year hotel industry veteran, will oversee asset management, design, architecture, construction, hotel and franchise development for the company.
Darnall joined Starwood in 1996 as Chief Operating Officer and assumed his current position as President, North America in 1999. Prior to Starwood, he spent 15 years at Interstate Hotels Corporation in a series of positions of increasing responsibility including Senior Vice President, Operations.
With Darnall's new assignment, Ballotti will now be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Starwood's hotels in North America. Ballotti began his Starwood career with Sheraton as Director of Marketing for North America in 1989. He subsequently held a series of operations assignments of increasing responsibility including his current role in Europe. He earned an Undergraduate Degree from Colby College and holds an ΜΒΑ from the Harvard Business School.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 740 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at both its owned and managed properties.
With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com/pressclub or www.starwood.com

From My Notebook
-Several recent surveys agree on the top tourist destinations in the next decades to be: China (with some 180 million), France, the U.S.Α., Spain and Italy. Greece is in the 15th slot of popularity in surveys.
-There were some 693 million people travelling from one country to another during the year 2001, despite the crisis to affect the travel industry that year. These travellers spent some 462 billion dollars. Statistics thanks to the World Tourism Organization.
-It would appear that the entire country of Greece is undergoing renovation in advance of the Olympic Games of 2004 being held in Athens. This, hopefully, should be resulting in somewhat of a "new" country, with ideal transportation and roadways.
-According to some calculations the Olympic Games of 2004 in Athens will have had the most expensive preparations in history.
-So complete is the funding for various aspects of the Games that there is a special fund for renovations on even the lowest classes of hotels and rented rooms.
-Amidst all these expenditures many local bars and tavernas are suffering from decreased patronage charged up to lack of spending money by former regular patrons.
-Local television is rife with advertisements for holidays in Greece for Greeks, spotlighting a host of islands, and for new automobiles---some of the latter with no payments for a full year. Only to help increase driving holidays as well as vehicular traffic noticeably.
-In general almost all reports of tourist arrivals in Greece from hotels are still under last year's totals, but for one exception---the Best Western 'chain' of hotels in Greece (numbering 22) anticipate an overall increase in bookings by 25 percent this year over last.
-Part of the dip in tourist revenue statistics is due to shorter stays by visitors.
-Despite negative reports on overall tourism to Greece, it would appear that British tourists this year may well equal the total number of last year, some 2,930,000.
-The local travel trade feels that all of the downtrend in incoming tourism portends demands for greater discounts for next year, in turn heralding still lower revenue returns.
-Greek gastronomy is to be a new and essential segment of overall promotion of Greece as a tourist destination by the ΗΝΤΟ.
-In stepping up promotion of Greece abroad, the ΗΝΤΟ will have participated in 63 international travel trade shows this year.
-Popularity of cruising as a choice of holiday options is increasing to such an extent that 15 new cruise vessels will have been inaugurated this year.
-By far the biggest new cruise ship, with passenger accommodation of 2,620, is the Queen Mary 2, being introduced in 2003. Among many features are a spa and the only planetarium at sea.
-Athens has its first postladies---making deliveries on motorcycles. Three cheers for equality!
-Α tourist first: The Hotel Sheraton Ankara & Towers has designed five of its rooms for left-handed guests. Innovations include changes in direction for door and closet openings. These rooms were made available on August 13, which was dedicated as World Day of Left-Handed. In addition a variety of souvenirs, designed for left-handed people, have been put on sale.