Stelios Polykratis

President,
Confederation of Room and Apartment Rental Enterprises

Philoxenia 2003 greeting.

Apart from what happens each year, which gives us some idea of our limits and what will follow so as we can adapt accordingly, we could say next year is particularly special because of the 2004 Games. If use exploit this opportunity appropriately, we could create a better climate for tourism in the years to come.

Naturally, not only the government must work to achieve a positive outcome but also we as tourism professionals must do our best. In other words, this pertains to us all and no one has the right to simply criticize and refuse to contribute in a substantial and meaningful way.

For these reasons I believe that we will all contribute to correcting any previous errors so that we’ll experience better days in the years to come. In order for this common effort to succeed to the degree we all wish it to, the government must realize that the tourism industry is the only one that could accomplish the hoped for conclusion and it must therefore rate tourism as its foremost priority. That, of course, has not happened up until now but I hope even at the last minute the state will listen to our voice prior to any legislation and other interventions.

Personally, I am confident for the future of tourism but only on the condition that there are combined efforts, recognition by the state and the government’s placing of tourism on the highest possible level of priorities.