National Tourism Council Reorganization

The 11-member Executive Secretariat is elected by the plenary session for two years. Its members include representatives of hoteliers’ associations, chambers of commerce and trade associations. The secretariat appoints and coordinates the action of the council’s working groups.

Just before the New Year’s holidays, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos announced the reorganization of the National Tourism Council. He said he wanted the council to play a bigger role in shaping policy, and not merely act as an advisory body to the minister.

The minister presides over the council but it is the Executive Secretariat and the Committee of Experts that are crucial for the success of the council’s mission. However, no appointments to the Committee of Experts have been made as yet.

The council’s plenary session will be meeting every three months. Its role is to make proposals to the minister, at the minister’s request, accompanied by a report. The plenary session also makes decisions on tourist policy, but only after a proposal by the minister.

The council must set in advance an annual program of acts and clearly define its targets for the year. It will monitor the progress of the government’s tourism development strategy, which covers the years 2004-2010, and update the strategy’s goals when necessary.

The 11-member Executive Secretariat is elected by the plenary session for two years. Its members include representatives of hoteliers’ associations, chambers of commerce and trade associations. The secretariat appoints and coordinates the action of the council’s working groups.

It meets every two months, along with the experts’ committee. It may also meet at any time in between if the minister considers it appropriate. Like the plenary session, it has an annual agenda and targets it must meet within the year.

The experts’ committee, when appointed, will be composed of top Development Ministry officials and advisers to the ministry. Its mandate is to propose policies related to tourism and submit its proposals directly to the minister.

It also makes recommendations about the annual action program of the tourism council and the specific targets to be met. It acts as an advisory body to the minister, the council and the regional directorates.

The council must advise the government about specific policies to follow to take advantage of opportunities.

The government considers this year a turning point for Greek tourism development. It hopes that the hosting of the 2004 Athens Olympics will have a lasting effect on the number of visitors to the country.

The opposition New Democracy party, on its part, has declared that it will resurrect the defunct Ministry of Tourism if it comes to power after March 7 national elections.