Domestic Tourism Gains Ground

Chryssa Krassa, project manager of summer Holidays Expo; Themis Kartsiotis, chief councillor of Helexpo; Daphne Tsiamou, director of the GNTO of Macedonia-Thrace; Yiannis Kofinis, president of the GNTO; Aristotelis Thomopoulos, president of Helexpo; Babis Paliogiannidis, director of Rodos tourism promotion agency Protour; and Konstantinos Efthimiadis; president of tourism promotion committee of the Kavala Prefecture at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the third Summer Holidays Expo.

The dynamics of domestic tourism to the benefit of Greek tourism businesses and the general public were highlighted at the third Summer Holidays Expo, held from 28 to 31 May at the Helexpo center in Thessaloniki.

According to Helexpo, this year’s Summer Holidays Expo attracted some 10,000 guests and gave tourism professionals the opportunity to come into direct contact with the public.

During the inauguration of the tourism fair the president of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Yiannis Kofinis, expressed the organization’s optimism for a successful outcome from the battle of Greek tourism against the global economic crisis.

During his speech, Mr. Kofinis gave particular emphasis to the dynamics and the strength of domestic tourism.

The GNTO’s president congratulated Helexpo for the opportunities offered through the Summer Holidays Expo since the fair mainly targeted the promotion of domestic tourism.

“For this reason the Tourism Ministry and the GNTO are investing over 14 million euros to further strengthen the promotional campaign with the very successful slogan ‘Menoume Ellada’ (We stay in Greece),” Mr. Kofinis said.

Summer Holidays Expo 2009 saw the participation of 100 exhibitors composed of Greek prefectures, travel agencies, traditional guesthouses and hotels, shipping companies, etc.

In addition to sideline events, four stands were awarded with the Helexpo prize for Best Creation: Crete, Zorpidis Tourism Organization, Cyclades Development Company and the Kavala Prefecture.

The award for best organizer was given to ANEK Lines.