Nikos Angelopoulos

Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) President

Philoxenia 2009 greeting.

Tourism is the vital part of our economy and our national social status. It is the sector with the greatest prospects of development and therefore a unique opportunity for our generation.

Tourism development is a huge and long-term team project, which can contribute to the overall development of the country, offering viability, economic sustainability, power and security. A strong tourism sector can also strengthen the nation’s brand name and function as a worldwide communication vehicle, setting the country among the top tourism destinations.

Tourism needs a clear and well structured strategy based on feasible and time oriented objectives, in order to be developed. It is crucial to be considered as a team project, strongly supported by the decision makers of our society.

Tourism development should be considered as a great national investment, as a unique long-term financial resource and as a new field of education and specialization.

Coping with the current crisis circumstances and squaring up to the consequences would be the first steps towards the new era of Greek tourism development. We all should work with consistency, professionalism and responsibility on this major national project, called “tourism development.”

Greek Travel Pages, as a member of the Greek tourism family, offers its support towards this direction. SETE and I personally would like to express our wishes for one more successful GTP Philoxenia edition.