Greece Takes French Lesson On Tourism

An initiative taken for the first time in Greece by an embassy that represents one of the most developed tourism countries in the world deserves many congratulations, said Nikos Angelopoulos, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, in reference to a recent workshop organized by the French Embassy in Greece.

The workshop, entitled “Tourism, from the traditional model towards innovation,” was organized by the commercial section of the French Embassy in Greece and gave Greek and French tourism professionals the opportunity to exchange views on tourism promotion and tourism development programs.

The new French tourism development agency, Atout France, was introduced to the audience during the first session of the workshop entitled “Tourism: towards a new approach.”

Philippe Maud’hui, director of studies and development of Atout France, gave insight on the innovative national organization for the French tourism sector formed by the merger of Maison de la France, the French promotional tourism office, and ODIT France, the tourism investment agency.

According to Mr. Maud’hui, Atout France is an association of public and private interests that will open the way for the successful implementation of public policies.

There is a tremendous difference in organization and promotion…Atout France employs some 400 people and creates wonders while our GNTO employs some 3,000 people and lags behind. (Nikos Aggelopoulos, SETE)

Nikos Angelopoulos, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, underlined the significant differences between the Greek and French approach to tourism when he commented on the new French agency.

“There is a tremendous difference in organization and promotion…Atout France employs some 400 people and creates wonders while our GNTO employs some 3,000 people and lags behind,” Mr. Angelopoulos said.

“We must free tourism from the state-run model and allow the private sector to get involved otherwise the chance for Greece to become a 12-month destination will be nothing more than a distant dream,” he said.

Dominique Ferraris, (Accor group); Brigitta Papastavrou, (Agrotima); Jean-Pierre Martinetti (Cite De La Culture Et Du Tourisme Durable – Paca); and Yiorgos Drakopoulos (SETE) during the workshop.

Another French innovation presented was the establishment of tourist communities throughout France by the National Association of Listed Resort and Tourist Town Mayors. The association counts some 1,100 mayors/members.

Philippe Most, the association’s secretary general, referred to the positive impact the direct participation and activation of local government leaves on tourism.

The second session of the workshop entitled “A region: a tourist destination (the city)” opened the floor to Greek and French tourism professionals who exchanged ideas and expertise.

The Greek audience showed a particular interest to the presentation of Marie-Laure Desmet, sub-directorate of the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau, as she gave insight on two of the French bureau’s initiatives that support Nice as a city break destination.

The first initiative is the French Riviera Pass, a prepaid smart card that entitles visitors free of charge access to almost twenty sites, museums and other tourist services and guided theme tours.

Thessaloniki is starting from scratch to become a European destination and be included among the cities of the international scene with attractive packages. (Marianna Tsoulia, Tourism Promotion Agency of Thessaloniki)

The bureau’s second initiative is the French Riviera Cruise Club for cruise passengers.

An interesting point of Ms. Desmet’s speech was the fact that although shopping is not the first incentive to attract tourists to Nice, it rounds up one billion euros in revenue for the shops each year and represents 20 percent of visitor expenditure.

On the Greek side, Marianna Tsoulia, general director of the Tourism Promotion Agency of Thessaloniki, stressed that Thessaloniki still has not managed to be recognized internationally as a holiday destination.

“Thessaloniki is starting from scratch to become a European destination and be included among the cities of the international scene with attractive packages,” Ms. Tsoulia said.

“At the moment if someone does an online search for a Greek city break destination they will only find Athens.”

The workshop’s third session focused on major tourism investment projects that are in progress in Greece such as the Costa Navarino resort in Messinia.

Nikos Katsikeros, vice president of the owning company Temes, gave a presentation of the Costa Navarino project (550 million euro budget) and through a slideshow gave the audience a preview of what to expect in spring 2010 when Navarino Dunes begins to operate.

The Navarino resorts project (Costa Navarino) is developed in two separate areas, Romanos  (Navarino Dunes) and Pylos (Navarino Bay). Navarino Bay is to operate in 2012.

Mr. Katsikeros also underlined that the resort is near the international airport of Kalamata and that his company plans to organize charter flights to facilitate further access to the hotel facilities.