Tourism Concerns Embrace Internet

Some 30 million euros goes to tourism enterprises this year in an effort to force them to embrace new technology, in particular the Internet, say the government’s tourism leaders. The funds will come from the European Union’s Information Community Business Program.

Government believes computerization is the key to improving the country’s tourism product. Technology, it says, links all sections of the tourism product — airlines, tour operators, travel agents, hotels, coastal shipping, car rental companies — with the user of these services.

As well, because the tourism industry is global, government says it will concentrate more and more on promoting technology within the country’s tourism industry. In particular, the government has budgeted 1.3 million euros to create an e-tourism forum, 1.2 million euros for the introduction of a tourism satellite account for the country’s tourism data, and 2.5 million to promote Greece through the Internet.

The latter includes ‘info points’ throughout the Attica-Athens general area. Another 1.2 million euros goes to technical advisors to support and coordinate the entire program. The major emphasis, however, will be placed on the Hellenic Tourism Organization’s web site.

The organization’s new site will link modern services, such as bookings and a voice portal, says a government announcement.