Congress Tourism Needs A Boost, HAPCO

“Small scientific workshops that are conducted at the last minute and are estimated to be enough for the years 2011 and 2012 is the only hope professionals have,” HAPCO’s president Dinos Astras (third from right) said. It is estimated that next year Greece would see a loss of some 15 percent in international conferences, while national conferences are expected to remain on the same levels of 2011 with a possible further reduction.

The Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers (HAPCO) recently warned representatives of the Greek tourism leadership in regards to the “dangerous” downward course of Greek congress tourism and what ever that implies for the already “plagued” Greek economy.

At the association’s annual general assembly last month, HAPCO’s president Dinos Astras said the course of Greek congress tourism in 2011 showed a negative sign.

More specifically, and according to market figures, the decline of national conferences for 2011 is estimated at 20 percent compared with 2010 figures, while international conferences are expected to fall by 40 percent.

HAPCO highlighted necessary actions such as the certification of the profession of a conference organizer (PCO) and the operation of a modern Metropolitan Conference Center.

On the government side, in mid-April, Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis chaired a meeting aimed towards the development of Greek congress tourism.

Mr. Nikitiadis discussed the creation of regional convention bureaus similar to those already operating with positive results in Athens and Thessaloniki.