Annual ABTA Report Promotes Greece and Athens City Breaks

Positive remarks for Greece in general and Athens in particular were included in the recent annual report of vacation preferences formulated by the Association of British Travel Agents. For 2005 vacation possibilities, the association reminded members of the efforts carried out by Greece to enrich its tourism product and to develop its lodging infrastructure.

The report places Greece as the third most popular destination, after Spain and France, for British travelers this year. It says the success of the Olympic Games and the plethora of infrastructure works completed in time for the Athens 2004 Games enriched the tourism product substantially. It also reports that Greece has increased the types of tourism products on offer.

Concerning Athens, the report stresses that the capital no longer reminds of a polluted city center or a traffic infested capital, but rather it’s an exciting destination for city breaks. The study says Athens archaeological centers, its restaurants and its art galleries can compete with any European capital.

For the first time in its tourism report history, the association advises its members to investigate the possibilities of packages to all points in Greece. It reminds that the country’s islands are but a 35-minute flight from the capital.

The study adds that although the most popular island destinations are Corfu, Crete and Rodos for British holidaymakers, the Cyclades and Dodekanissos islands are perfect for island-hopping possibilities.