October 2001

A NEW SHIP OF DANE IN THE DODECANESE LINE
The new ship of DANE Sea Line F/B "Diagoras" was put in the Dodecanese line right after its inauguration the previous month.

The vessel is 141,54 meters long, its width is 23 meters, it has a capacity for 1.760 passengers, 90 private vehicles and 70 lorries and it can cover the travelers needs with the top quality services that it provides.

DANE acquired the vessel with its own funds without any subsidies or loans. The transformation of the vessel, which cost more than 3 billion drachmas, took place in the shipyards in the Piraeus area and DANE feels that shipyard employees of this area can be proud of their work, as "Diagoras" can constitute an example of the quality of their work.

The Minister of Commercial Shipping Mr. Christos Papoutsis expressed the hope that many more companies will follow DANE Sea Line in making use of Greek Shipyards.

LIFE GOES ON !!!
Its been a month past the unimaginable multiple terror attacks. The articles written and the talk shows, range from reporting the facts, to projecting into the future. Nothing though can substitute what we all saw worldwide on television on that September.

We all became eye witnesses of one of the biggest terrorist attacks ever. It was planned in such a way that we all would become eye witnesses, and we all could emotionally be involved. How many other terrorist attacks have we all read in the newspapers or viewed the results of terrorist attacks on TV, and how many of them involved us emotionally?

This terrorist attack was meant to involve the entire population of the world and document it from all its angles, so we will not forget.
Under all this tremendous emotional involvement and charge, with thousands of lives lost and last, the unaccountable immediate and long term financial losses, the voice of New York City Mayor Rudolph W.Giuliani comes along to wake us up from the shock, the mourning, the anger...

It came to Hellenic Travelling via e-mail and we give it to you word for word.

Subject: NEW YORK CITY MAYOR GIULIANI DELIVERS TOURISM MESSAGE

New York City - Citing the need to bolster the city's economy and businesses in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy, New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani encouraged the world to support New York City with visitor spending.

Mayor Giuliani:"I encourage people from all over the country who want to help. I have a great way of helping: come here and spend money. Go to a restaurant, a play, you might actually have a better chance of getting tickets to The 'Producers' now, if you want to come here and see it. The life of the city goes on..."
People considering a visit to New York City can obtain information through the newly established toll-free New York City Visitor Hotline at 1-888-805-4040 (international: 860-496-5972).
The hotline, established by NYC & Company, the city's tourism bureau,is currently staffed by multi-lingual live operators daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Visitors can also log onto www.nycvisit.com for the latest information about transportation, hotels, cultural institutions, retail and special services, airline contact information and other services.

Looking back at last September's editorial, we now can see what a Contingency Plan is, at its wildest development.

The aftermath of this event has and will effect Greek Tourism...if we (public and private sector) do not make up our own Contingency Plan. One which will be progressive and not regressive.
...because life goes on!!!
Hellenic Travelling

LOW MOBILITY AT NORTHERN-GREEK AIRPORTS
The number of passengers who used the airports of Northern Greece in the first half of 2001 decreased by 170.000, by comparison to the same period the previous year.

The four airports in Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Kastoria and Kozani trafficked in 1.636.948 passengers, as opposed to 1.805.148 in the respective semester in 2000.

Especially at Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki there was a 23.5% decrease in the number of passengers traveling in June.
At the airports of Alexandroupolis, Kastoria and Kozani decrease percentages were 12.3, 28.4 and 35.6 respectively in the same month.
Numbers were not encouraging for the whole January-June semester, while lowest mobility was shown in May.

POET AGAINST FEWER OPENING HOURS OF DELPHI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

The Panhellenic Federation of Tourist Enterprises (POET) recently sent a letter to the Minister of Civilization Mr. Evangelos Venizelos regarding the decrease of the opening hours of the museum and the archaeological site in Delphi.

POET expressed its surprise that the site closes at 1500 hours instead of 1800, since September 11, as the winter period does not start until October 31.

The reason behind this was the termination of the contracts of the summer-period labor force on September 10.

As the archaeological site of Delphi is the second most popular site after the Acropolis, POET expressed the belief that the Minister would reconsider his decision.

CONTEST FOR CONFERENCE CENTER AT ELLINIKON AIRPORT

Eighteen joint-ventures, groups of companies and businessmen have expressed an interest to invest in and exploit the conference center at Ellinikon East airport.

By decision of the Minister of Development Mr. Nikos Christodoulakis a committee has already been formed in order to evaluate the relevant offers. President of the committee is Mr. Eugene Giannakopoulos and its members are Mr. Anastasios Homenidis, Mr. Spyros Divanis, Mr. St. Koletsis and Mrs. Katerina Gregoriou.

The committee will soon have to define the type of contest that will take place, to take the necessary steps for its conduct and then to proceed to its final stage.

Among those who have expressed an interest are Sasaki Associates S.A., M. Konstantinides, president of CHEM S.A., the "London International Exhibition Center Ltd." Co-operative, RTKL-UK Ltd., Everest S.A., and many more joint-ventures.

AWTE LONDON HOSTS PARTY FOR IFWTO MEMBERS

AWTE London will be hosting a cocktail party during World Travel Market in November 2001. All IFWTO members (International Federation of Women Travel Organization) are enthusiastically invited to attend on Monday evening November 12 at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, London.

Tickets are 18 UK pounds and will include drinks and canapes as well as the coach transfer from World Travel Market at Earls Court to the Theatre Museum.

ON LINE BOOKINGS FOR HELLAS FLYING DOLPHINS

Bookings through the Internet are now a reality for those who wish to travel by Hellas Flying Dolphins. All they need to do is simply visit the company's site at www.dolphins.gr. At this electronic address they can also get all necessary information regarding itineraries and prices and make on line bookings using their credit cards.

Free ticket delivery by courier is offered but passengers may also collect their tickets at the company's ticket issuing offices.

FLYING DOLPHIN "ZEUS" CONNECTS THESSALONIKI TO PEREA

Flying dolphin "Zeus" connects Thessaloniki to Perea and Agia Triada on a daily basis. Starting from the port of Thessaloniki it covers the distance to Perea in approximately 15 minutes running a "pilot" program. Under full operating conditions it will take one hour aller-retour.

This new itinerary is expected to bring relief to the inhabitants of Thessaloniki as they will be able to get to the east municipalities of the Thermaic Gulf faster, without being delayed by heavy traffic.
The idea was based on the initiative of the Mayor of the Thermaic, Mr. Antony Matzaris, and Mr. Stavros Georgiou, owner of the shipping company Total Skop.

According to Mr. Matzaris, this project has nothing to do with the sea transportation program which was being planned for Thessaloniki and it is a totally independent effort. If it is successful Mr. Matzaris in collaboration with the municipalities of the Thermaic, Thessaloniki and Kalamaria might proceed to the foundation of a company which will aim at developing sea transportation in the Thermaic Gulf.

"Zeus" will realize six itineraries every day with no in-between stops for the time being. However, a potential stop at the White Tower is being considered as it will be very convenient for the passengers.

"Zeus" has a capacity for 100 passengers and the ticket price will probably range from 400 to 500 drachmas, although the actual price has not been decided yet.

GREAT PROFITS FOR THE CASINOS OF PARNITHA AND CORFU

Increased profits were shown by the casinos of Parnitha and Corfu in the 8-month period of their operation, from January to August 2001.
Compared to the same period in 2000 tickets increased by 35%, bets increased by 49%, i.e.63 billion drachmas, while gross profits from games were 16,8 billion drachmas (53% increase).

Based on these numbers it is expected that the annual turnover of the two casinos will exceed 26 billion drachmas while the rights of the National Tourist Organization of Greece will amount to 9 billion drachmas.

The market share of the two casinos is over 18%, compared to 11% the previous year.

It is obvious that the casinos are more profitable under private management, as they have annual turnovers far more increased than previously when they were exploited by the state.

BAR - RESTAURANT OPENS IN CENTRAL STATION OF OSE

Olympic Catering recently opened a model bar-restaurant in the central station of OSE (Railway Organization of Greece) in Athens. It remains open on a 24-hour basis serving thousands of passengers daily.

The new restaurant extends over 170m2, the cost of the investment was 100 million Grd.

It is easily accessible by passengers, as it has doors on both sides of the station, the street and the platform.

It is noteworthy that Olympic Catering, initially aiming at catering
for Olympic Airways, has expanded into a food company that is rapidly developing, able to prepare more than 25.000 portions of food per day.

POET COMPLAINS TO NTOG

The Panhellenic Federation of Tourist Enterprises (POET) recently sent a letter to the General Secretary of N.T.O.G., Mr. Eugene Giannakopoulos, to congratulate the Minister of Development on his effort to organize a meeting of the representatives of the tourist field with the Prime Minister, but also to complain about not being asked to participate in the meeting.

POET expressed its dissatisfaction stating that their absence deprived the Prime Minister of getting a global picture regarding tourist issues both in Athens and in other regions of the country.
POET takes trade-union action and represents the big tourist unions in regions outside Athens (Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Macedonia etc.), which in turn represent the tour operators and the tourist offices that own the majority of tourist coaches and transport the largest amount of incoming tourism.

The question thus arises why POET does not take part in such meetings where tourist issues are discussed, as POET is part of NTOG.
A recent example was the meeting of the National Council of Tourism on July 3, 2001, where apparently one of the members of the council added the name of the president of POET as a member of the committee of tourist transportation without even consulting him.

The purpose behind this action was the exclusion of the federation from the committee "services", which is responsible for tourist agencies, the primary field that POET itself represents.

Poet should participate in both these committees by right and should even be the head of one of them.

POET closed the letter by expressing the demand to contribute to any initiative that the tourism in our country can benefit from.

GROHE-ART IN GREECE

N. Sapountzis S.A. celebrated 40 years of successful business activities on a summer night in the castle of Bourtzi in Nafplio.
The company is the sole representative of the biggest German companies in Europe, such as GROHE, AQUA, KERAMAG and KEUCO. It has collaborated with many technical companies in Greece as well as with the Olympic Stadium, the International Airport, the Papageorgiou hospital and YGEIA hospital.

Mrs. Papandreou, Minister for Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, made the opening speech and referred to the contribution of women to the field, who, she said, are highly sensitive to cultural and art issues.

GroheArt was presented as a specimen of modern art as its "forms" expressed "feeling, charm and surprise."

Personalities from all over the world, such as famous architects, representatives of the architectural field and Grohe fans from the international jet-set were present at the celebration.

Among them were Lord Anthony St. John of Bletso, President of the House of Lords, Mr. Tim Gough, Architect, Vice-president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Mrs. Anna Nivelle Hunter, cultural representative of His Majesty the Prince of Wales, Mr. David Madden, British Ambassador in Greece, Mr. G. Fuck, President of the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce in Athens, and many businessmen and investors.

After the formal dinner by chef Jules Deligiannis, the famous DJ Ravin of Buddha Bar in Paris entertained the guests with his music.

PROFITS FOR ANEK

ANEK shipping company had a turnover of 21 billion drachmas in the first half of 2001, as opposed to the 16,7 billion drachmas over the same period the previous year (25,7% increase).

Total net profits for ANEK between January and June 2001 improved by 29,6%.

According to the announcement made by the company, loss did not exceed 1,8 billion drachmas in this period, while in 2000 it was 2,6 million drachmas.

It is noteworthy that the company managed to have such positive results despite the high prices of petrol, which had a great effect on the cost of the exploitation of the vessels.

It is clear that ANEK is a rapidly developing company that will establish itself as a very significant power in the European Navigation.

THE ROAD SEEMED SLIPPERY FOR TOURIST COACHES FOR A WHILE...

The Panhellenic Federation of Tourist Enterprises, the General Panhellenic Federation of Tourist Buses and the Tourist Federation of Northern Greece decided to hold a Panhellenic General Assembly on August 29 at 1800 hours at Amalia Hotel in Athens regarding the potential strike of tourist coaches throughout the country, starting on September 5.

The strike would serve as the means of complaint to the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the National Tourist Organization of Greece for breaking their written promises and for proposing a bill that would turn tourist buses almost useless.

Businessmen who had invested billions for acquiring a remarkable number of buses seemed determined to fight for their interests at any cost.

At the General Assembly it was decided that they would go on with the strike so as to express their dissatisfaction about the indifference of the responsible ministries.

In the meantime the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises sent a letter to the Minister of Development, Mr. Nikos Christodoulakis, in an effort to initiate a dialogue between the interested parts, so that the strike would be called off.

SETE stated that the consequences of the strike would be damaging for Greek tourism, as any dysfunction in the field of tourism would be considered as inability to offer certain services, which would only mean negative advertising for our country.

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism Agents also expressed its opposition towards the state and stated that tourist buses are the sine-qua-non of our tourist product.

The strike, which was initially postponed for a day to ensure better organization on the part of the strikers, was finally called off, as the Ministries of Development, Transport and Communications and the representatives of the tourist enterprises came to an agreement.

LUFTHANSA STARTS OCTOBERFEST EARLIER

Lufthansa has been serving the visitors of the Senator-Business room at Spata airport fresh draft Loewenbraeu beer, although the famous Munich Beer Festival "Octoberfest" has not started yet.

Loewenbraeu produces beer especially for this event every year.
Lufthansa started its own "Octoberfest" on September 3, and it will continue until October 10.

LUFTHANSA SENATOR-BUSINESS ROOM AT SPATA AIRPORT PROMOTES CULTURE

It is the second time that Lufthansa has decorated the Senator-Business room at Spata airport with a painting exhibition.
After the successful exhibition by Claire Allaz-Vourou, a Swiss artist living in Greece for more than 25 years, Lufthansa now presents a second exhibition with the works of Kyveli Mousouri, a Greek painter taught by Sarafianos.

Said Roland Geiger, Manager Airport Services of Greece, Cyprus and Israel at the opening of the exhibition: "We truly believe that the contribution both to Greek-German and to the international sensation of the art of painting is an excellent idea."

Each art exhibition remains open for about two months before a new artist presents his/her work.

Potential buyers can get more information at the reception of Senator-Business room at Spata airport.

OPENING CEREMONY OF "PARNON HOTEL' IN AGIOS PETROS

The opening ceremony of the Parnon Hotel took place in a summer evening, which was planned and organized by the members of the Agios Petros association.

The "Agios Petros" association was founded in 1880 in Athens by the first people from Agios Petros who came to Athens. The purpose behind founding such an association was to strengthen the ties between those people.

All members come from Agios Petros in Kynouria, which today is the largest municipal region of the municipality of North Kynouria and has 1060 inhabitants.

The most significant undertaking of the association has been the foundation of Parnon Hotel, which opened in 1970 for the first time.
Today, the hotel is a modern and functional unit after its recent renovation.

The municipality of Arcadia is in the process of creating the ecological park of Parnon and has its head office in Agios Petros.
Historically, the people from Agios Petros have taken part in all our nation's wars and a great number of them were sacrificed in the battle field.

The village has a wonderful landscape, it is surrounded by forests full of walnut trees and cherry trees. It is also famous for its monastery of Malevi where one can see the miraculous picture of Virgin Mary.

Today, Agios Petros remains a lively village with many permanent inhabitants, even in wintertime.

LUFTHANSA RECORD IN ATHENS

Recent reports by Lufthansa revealed that more than 30.000 passengers traveled in July between Athens and Germany, a record number compared to the usual numbers.

Due to the great demand Lufthansa decided in April 2001 to start covering the Athens-Frankfurt route with an Airbus 300-600 instead of the Airbus 320/321.

Said Mr. Michael Suesser, General Sales Manager and Passenger Service Manager in Greece and Cyprus: "This 26% increase of capacity daily, which means a 600-seat increase in this route every day, was successfully covered during the month of July'.

Lufthansa is planning to continue flying the same type of airplanes in the coming winter season that starts in November.

SLEEP TIGHT WHILE ON A FLIGHT

Singapore Airlines long-range aircraft will soon be equipped with a new type of seats that recline into flat beds offering business class passengers the opportunity to rest while flying.

These seats will be called SpaceBeds and they will be installed on 45 MEGATOP 747 and JUBILEE 777ER aircraft which fly to North America, Europe and Australasia. The cost will amount to 100 million US dollars.

The first plane will be retrofitted in November 2001 flying Singapore-London aller retour. The whole program, though, will be completed in a year.

The SpaceBed is 198 centimeters long and it is the longest business class bed now available. Its length will cover the needs even of the tallest passengers.

It has a unique seat cushio ning system which takes the shape of the body, thus allowing for a more restful sleep.
It is also equipped with electrical foot and leg rests, lumbar support and adjustable headrests.

Said SIA Senior Executive Vice President (Commercial), Mr. Michael Tan: "SIA considered a wide range of options and carried out extensive market studies and obtained customer feedback when developing the SpaceBed. We went for a design with record width, record length and unprecedented comfort and styling because that is what we believe our customers would like to have".

ATTICA GROUP TURNOVER RISES BY 28,5% IN FIRST HALF OF 2001

Consolidated results for the first half of 2001 show sales of 32,3 billion drachmas, an increase by 28,5% over sales of 25,2 billion during the same period of last year.

Net profit after interest, depreciation and taxes stands at 146,9 million drachmas versus 2,897 million in the first half of 2000.
It should be noted that the financial results of this year's first half include depreciation charges of 3,4 billion drachmas versus 2 billion drachmas for last year's first half and net financial expenses increased by over 4 billion over the first half of 2000.
The increased amount of depreciation and higher interest paid are due to the addition of new ships to Attica's fleet, namely Blue Star 1, Blue Star 2 and Blue Star Ithaki at the beginning of the summer 2000, Superfast VI in mid-February 2001, Superfast V in mid-April 2001 and Superfast VII in mid-May 2001.

During the first half of 2001, in terms of carryings, Attica's Superfast ferries in the Greece-Italy route carried 252.141 passengers, ranking first with a market share of 32%, versus 239.685 passengers last year, a market share of 30%, 55.900 trucks, a market share of 27,2%, versus 53.100 trucks last year and a market share of 25%, and 39.250 private vehicles, a market share of 24,8% versus 24,6% in the same period last year.

In the same period, Strintzis lines,of which Attica Ent.s own 48,57%, increased its market share in the Greece-Italy routes to 18,1% in passengers versus 12,6% last year, 18,4% in freight units ver-sus 15,5% last year and 21% in private vehicles versus 12,9% in the same period of 2000.

In the domestic market, Strintzis Lines carried during the first half of this year 773.680 passengers versus 683.673, an increase of 13,2% compared to first half of 2000, and 99.942 private vehicles and motorcycles versus 86.592 last year, an increase of 15,4%.

CERTIFICATE OF SUITABILITY FOR CONCORDE AIRCRAFT

British Airways was greatly satisfied to receive the approval of the British and French Civil Aviation Services that signposts the return of CONCORDE airplanes in the commercial service.

The re-issuing of the certificate of suitability means the end of the intensive work program with the participation of government services and builders of British Airways and Air France and it ensures the high security standards of the supersonic aircraft.

Mr. Mike Street, Client Service Manager of British Airways stated: "It is amazing recognition for those of us who worked so hard in the two countries this year. British Airways takes the firm position that the CONCORDE aircraft should be re-used only if it covered the strictest security specifications. It is evident that we have made it".

The improvement program included:
* The replacement of the fuel tanks
* The use of New Zero Growth tyres by Michelin, and
* Wire amplification

"Alpha Foxtrot" is the first of the seven CONCORDE planes of British Airways that has been certified after having completed all the upgrading requirements. "Alpha Echo" and "Alpha Golf" will soon follow.

The exact date of the re-use of the supersonic aircraft has not been announced yet. However, British Airways hopes to restart the daily flight Heathrow-New York-Heathrow very soon.

AIRLINES AIM TO CONTROL CONSUMER

The recent commission cap introduced by American, United, Air Canada and others has two motives, an indirect price increase for consumers and more importantly a move to further the selfish airline interests to control consumers.

It is a definite move in the direction of airlines trying to achieve "free distribution" at the expense of the consumer as they force more direct sales to the airlines by creating a greater price differential between tickets issued by agents and those bought directly.

"This disgraceful strategy is moving control of the consumer away
from neutral and unbiased travel agency services. The loser is the consumer", says UFTAA president Mike Hannah.

"They will have to pay more or accept vastly inferior and limited airline service". With direct airline sales, the consumer has no choice. With the travel agent he has a choice of competitive offers and professional travel service.

The move by the airlines is totally irresponsible and unacceptable. It is a move to extensive control over the consumer and ultimately market dominance with all its negative effects.

It is time for governments to stop rationalizing the airlines behavior and start using their authority to defend the consumer interests, protecting competition and eliminating the use of anti-trust immunity that airlines hide behind.

BALAKAKIS TOUR OPERATORS REPRESENTS BALKAN AIRLINES IN GREECE

Mr. Andreas Balakakis, owner of Balakakis Tour Operators, recently signed a co-operation agreement in Sofia that makes him the sole representative of Balkan Airlines in Greece.

In a recent interview with "T.N.", Mr. Balakakis, who was elected president of ASTA Hellas for the second time, talked about the new co-operation, as well as about his which this year completes its 27th year of operation.

Balakakis Tour Operators was founded in 1974 in Athens near Syntagma Square. It has 32 members of staff and salespeople. All of them speak English and some speak French.

The agency is divided into three departments:
* The domestic/Cyprus department
* The international department, and
* The ticket issuing department

The agency serves approximately 36.000 customers per year and it is a member of IATA, HATTA, ACTO and PETAGA.

It uses the 23CRS Galileo booking system, it has an e-mail address on the Internet - www.balakakis.gr - and it also uses the NEW TRAVEL FORCE 2000 booking and accounting system.

Balakakis Tour Operators is the representative of ALLEGRO RESORTS worldwide and often rents charter planes to cover its needs.
It organizes sports events and conferences and it has received awards. It also plans FUN AND DRIVE holidays and makes hotel reservations all over the world.

More specifically, in collaboration with BALKAN AIRLINES, Balakakis Tour Operators offers:
* Reservation - P.T.A.
* Chartered flights
* Cargo
* Excursion packages
* Hotels
* Guided tours
* Gifts for the passengers
* Ticket delivery by courier

Finally, it co-operates with Emirates, Gulfair, Alitalia, Olympic Airways, Cyprus Airlines, KLM, Aegean and Cronus Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and a number of other airlines.

FIRST AUTOMATIC CHECK-IN TERMINAL AT SPATA AIRPORT BY LUFTHANSA


Lufthansa passengers can now have the opportunity to use one of the two new automatic terminals at Spata airport. Departure Gate B4, for checking in.

This service will initially be available to passengers traveling only with hand luggage but it will soon be an option for all passengers.
All they need is in automated ticket and boarding card, a magnetic ticket or an electronic one. Furthermore, passengers who have made reservations with Austrian Airlines can also make use of the new service.

Apart from automatic check-in, passengers will be able to use the terminal to purchase their tickets, provided they have booked them in advance. With the use of their credit cards passengers will be able to collect their tickets from the terminal on a 24-hour basis.
Lufthansa is the first airline that offers this service to its passengers at the International Athens Airport.

NEW EVENT & BUSINESS CENTER IN VIENNA


One of Vienna's most spectacular feats of urban redevelopment -the gasometers- is approaching completion. Anyone who has ever driven the motorway from Vienna International Airport to the city center is sure to have noticed the four monumental, former gas storage facilities.
The round towers with their attractive brick and glass facades, originally built in 1898, have been adapted by the star architects Jean Nouvel, Manfred Wehdorn, Wilhelm Holzbauer and Coop Himmelblau.
The project has the dimensions of a new city district, housing not only residential and office premises, but also offering total infrastructure. It is poised to take a significant cultural lead with its cinema complex and, most importantly, an events hall with capacity for an audience of 4.000.

It opened its doors to the public for the first time on 26 September with an event par excellence. The opening of the new venue was celebrated with a gig by Roxy Music, the rock icons fronted by Brian Ferry.

HIM, Bond, and Buena Vista Social Club & Ibrahim Ferrer are among the other acts to follow.

UFTAA SUPPORT CAMPAIGN AGAINST COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION FOR CHILDREN


The Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) was
founded in l966 by a group of experienced and perspicacious travel Agents from around the world who recognised the need for one united world-wide body repre-senting the travel industry: the Travel and Tourism Industry was not only to become the first industry in the world, but the very first one to be global by the nature of its products, customers and marketing strategies. Hence the need to federate professionals world-wide in order to tackle common issues such as transpor-tation, accommodation, visas and regulations, but also to maintain constant communication between incoming and outgoing countries, develop new destinations and business practices.

UFTAA, from the very beginning, addressed environment issues and set up a very active committee to encourage its members to protect nature and culture, the very basis for and healthy, sustainable and prosperous tourism.

In January 1993, UFTAA Board of Directors was alerted of the severe problem encountered in Asia of children being sexually abused by tourists and travellers at large. A campaign "End Children Prostitution in Asian Tourism" (ECPAT - later to become a NGO) had been launched in 1989 by an handful of good will people, whose efforts to convince politicians and international organisations to join them were vain until UFTAA decided to help.

That same year, UFTAA, during its annual congress in Malta, awarded its Peace Trophy to the ECPAT CAMPAIGN and elaborated the "Child and Travel Agent's Charter". The Charter was translated and broadcast to national associations and stakeholders of the travel and tourism industry. The official announcement of the adoption of the Charter by over one hundred member countries was made in 1999 during the UFTAA congress in Pattaya, in the presence of Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn, rapporteur for Children's rights to the United Nations. Concrete and substantial actions were subsequently taken such as awareness campaigns through distribution of brochures to travellers, surveys at points of destinations, training of staff and extensive use of the "No Child Sex Tourism" logo adopted in 1997 in Berlin, on printed material. Many national associations made strong pressure on their own governments to act for the protection of their own children.

UFTAA was very instrumental, as early as 1994, along ECPAT France in convincing INTERPOL to join the campaign with concrete actions. Mrs Jacqueline de Rey, UFTAA President, was nominated by all campaigners and NGO's, Chairperson of the Tourism Platform at the first World Congress in Stockholm in 1996 in recognition of the work done by UFTAA along these years. Most actions were then put under the umbrella of WTO and Mrs de Rey, now UFTAA Honorary President, is Vice-President of the Special Task Force.

UFTAA has, through the years, much contributed by its input in the production of new practices for the Travel & Tourism Industry (WTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, Tour Operators Code of Conduct) attending and speaking at all International Meetings and Seminars on Protection of Children against sexual abuses (INTERPOL, UNESCO, WTO, E.U).

We are convinced that no bona fide travel and tourism professional
(travel agents, tour operators, airlines, hotels, etc) can be entering voluntarily the criminal ring of Sexual Abuse of Children. This, in most cases, is done by "underground" organisations (e.g. Spartacus)... We are also convinced that the Travel & Tourism Industry has done a tremendous work in bringing the general problem of sexual abuse of children into light. They should be highly congratulated for that! No industry world-wide has ever joined efforts and got results on a human and social issue (i.e. children at work or Internet child pornography). Our industry has shown a remarkable example of global and strong partnership to condemn, fight and bring awareness into a human and crucial problem. But we have to admit the work has just touched the surface and further strong actions are of paramount importance.

UFTAA has, very early changed its Sustainable Tourism Committee on Environment into a Responsible Committee on Natural and Human Environment and we have convinced some of our friends in the industry to do the same (IH&RA, PATA). UFTAA will, of course, continue to be a leader in any legitimate fight against the possible negative aspect of travel and tourism. No need to say, when Children's lives are at stake, we have shown, with this issue, that we are a very responsible and coherent Industry. UFTAA welcomes the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, to be held in Yokohama on December next and support all efforts to further strengthen the action against this malaise.

DECREASED HOTEL OCCUPANCY IN FIRST HALF OF 2001 IN ATHENS

Athenian hotels presented a 7,4% decrease in occupancy in the first half of 2001 compared to the same period last year, according to a report on European hotels issued by Arthur Andersen Consulting.
Average occupancy this year was 66,5% (71,9% last year), which is quite similar to the average fullness of other European cities (66,8%). In Rome occupancy was 78%, in Barcelona 78,7%, in Cyprus 72,6% and in Constantinople 64,7%.

Average price per room was 127,19 EURO in Athens, increased by 3,6% compared to last year's prices. Prices in other major cities competitive to Athens were 144,8 EURO in Rome and 124,4 EURO in Barcelona, increased by 10,7% and 17,6% respectively.

According to the research, Barcelona still remains the most popular weekend destination, while the negative return of hotels in Istanbul is due to the problematic Turkish economy and the lack of safety in the country.

From My Notebook By Connie Soloyanis
* On all counts travel and tourism is now established as the largest industry worldwide, as well as the fastest growing. It has been estimated that some 100 million new jobs in travel and tourism could be created within the next decade, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

* Cruising is the fastest growing sector, and cruise ships are growing bigger and bigger. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has the largest to date, with two vessels, each accommodating 3,100 passengers.

* At present there are some 3,900,000 hotel rooms within the European Union. Including non-E.U. hotel within Europe there is a total of 4,700,000 about 36 percent of the world's capacity.

* European airlines employ some 400,000 people, while Europe's airports employ another 500,000.

* First airport to install a casino was Amsterdam's Schiphol. First airline set to establish casinos aloft is Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic, aboard the new three-decker aircraft presently on order.

* Within the U.S.A. there are some 20,000 scheduled flights daily.

* Airships, or dirigibles, are set for a comeback. In Germany a company is planning a fleet of 50. Originally pioneered in 1990 by Count Zeppelin, they 'died' in 1937 with the disastrous fire during mooring in New Jersey after a transatlantic crossing. Said fire was caused because hydrogen was used instead for inflation of helium.

* Germans are the top tourists of Europe, with some 63 million taking a holiday trip abroad last year.

* Lufthansa has installed the first automated baggage handling system at self-service check-in terminals art Frankfurt Airport.

* It is estimated that some two thirds of German domestic passengers are using electronic ticketing today.

* There is a baggage home delivery service in the U.S.A., which picks up luggage at the passenger's home and delivers it to the client's hotel in some 150 cities. It also works in reverse.

* Air passengers are more likely to die during a flight than in an air accident. In the average year there are some one thousand deaths aloft while the average is 800 in accidents each year.

* There is a 'pet friendly' service in the U.S.A. and Canada, listing hotels and resorts where such cats and dogs are welcome.

* The Epona resort in Hungary has stalls attached to its villas to welcome guests' horses.

* At present there are 271 'official' airlines in the world, accounting for 98 percent of the global passenger jet fleet. With the fast growth of air traffic it is estimated that the present commercial aircraft fleet of some 9,700 airplanes is to balloon to some 17,000 within the next decade.

* Some 90 percent of the aircraft utilized by recognized airlines are leased from holding companies. Among the few exceptions are Swissair, Olympic and Delta.

* Not all airlines are like. Aboard Pakistani International Airlines Islamic prayers are broadcast on take-off, followed by an appeal for cash contributions to the government.

* The world average delay in regularly scheduled flights is sixteen minutes, while that for charter flights is six.

* Men and women guests at the 22 unit hotel chain of Novotel in Australia have been recorded having indulged in sex on the stairways, in and around the swimming pool, on and under the piano in the lobby bar, in the guest laundry room, and under dinner tables.

* The city of Vienna promotes an annual June 17th Rainbow Parade, celebrating equality for lesbians, gays and transsexuals. Some 100,000 people participate.

* Rome follows with the World Gay Parade, held over a weekend in July.

* There is a Dateless and Desperate Ball held on the Greek island of Mykonos in September.

* The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain has introduced a flexible check-out policy for corporate clients. They may stay for 24 hours the time of check-in.

Tips on Travelling:

It is unwise to feed stray cats in Rome. If a cat does not finish all of any offered meal and leaves remnants, the provider can be fined for littering.

When a Swiss gets drunk in his country, he braces himself against a building until he feels he can navigate. There is a law which dictates that anyone who is lying down in public is considered to be inebriated or drunk. Anyone vertical is considered to be sober.

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