GNTO Mismanagement Report Goes To Justice

The report on the mismanagement of the Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) funds for the 2008-2009 period was delivered to Parliament to investigate the criminal liability of the politicians who were in charge of Greece’s tourism sector at the time.

The report, commissioned by Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos last year, was investigated by the Court of Audit and then turned over to an Athens appeals prosecutor last January.

According to reports, inspectors discovered mismanagement of the GNTO’s funds that were intended to promote tourism domestically and abroad.

The investigative report found that during the 2008-2009 period excessive expenses incurred on public relations, gifts, hosting foreign guests in Greece, advertising and promotion of Greece abroad and domestically.

Among other things, the report confirmed that many of the GNTO’s advertising projects, worth tens of millions of euros, were carried out without a tender and through direct assignments, a tactic that was followed regularly.

The report also noted that informal decision-making had taken place.

During the 2008-2009 period, former tourism ministers were Aris Spiliotopoulos and Kostas Markopoulos. On his part, Mr. Markopoulos recently denied any wrongdoings in regards to the GNTO finances.