Hotel Classification Progresses Steadily

The tourism development ministry recently announced the completion of the process of selection of a committee that will be responsible for the classification of hotels and rooms to rent. It also announced developments on basic issues of the tourism industry such as the promotion of thematic tourism.

Insofar as classification is concerned, 14 companies have been selected to act as advisors to hotel units and rental rooms in the process of adhering to the world acknowledged star and key system. TU¨V Reiland Hellas was the winner of the competition.

Former Tourism Development Minster Fanni-Palli Petralia recently signed the decision by which the specific technical and functional aspects of hotel classification will adhere to. The Greek National Tourism Organization is responsible for the inspection of the hotels in order to determine what category they should be placed in according to these prerequisites.

Ms. Petralia also announced there would be changes in the overall strategy of the Greek advertising campaign. Although the slogan ‘Explore your senses’ will remain, the visual concept of the campaign will change so that it places more emphasis on thematic tourism, that is, wine routes, exploration of caves and volcanoes, which will vary according to each region.

The former minister announced her satisfaction with the outcome of the tourism season as some 17 million visitors came to Greece this summer. Members of the tourism industry who claim they have seen an overall increase in bookings, particularly through the Internet, reaffirmed this.