Greek Fleets Boast Some Of The World’s Safest Coaches

Horst Botz of EvoBus Hellas shows off the newest Mercedes coach to Hellenic Tourism Organization Chairman Yiannis Stefanides and the president of the Hellenic Tourism Coach Owners’ Association, Marios Trivizas.

EvoBus Hellas, representatives here for the Mercedes-class tourism coach, held a small reception last month just below the Acropolis to introduce its newest coach to the Greek market. The new coach is said to be the safest of its kind in the world.

Marios Trivizas, the president of the Hellenic Tourism Coach Owners’ Association, says Greek coach operators were the first to order the new generation coaches and were on hand at the start of production. So far, some 14 units have been sold in Greece and some 100 throughout Europe. Mr.Trivizas added two of the new units to his fleet of 10 coaches.

Separately, the association is concerned with recent price increases in petrol and parts. The sector, which runs some 5,000 coaches, says petrol prices alone have increased 70% so far this year.

To cover these increases, the association believes prices for tour coach services must increase by about 30%, but realize that the most they can hope for is a 10% increase. It therefore looks to the state for assistance through measures, such as substantial tax reductions in petrol and parts for the next two years or so.