Giorgos Telonis

President,
Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies

PHILOXENIA 2011 greeting.

Philoxenia has contributed over time to the tourism development of our country and has given impetus to the tourism of Northern Greece. For all of us it is a reference point, an opportunity for the promotion of our tourism offer, a meeting place for professionals. In the most difficult turning point in Greek history, tourism resists the crisis.

Tourism brings revenue to our country, creates jobs. It concerns and affects the Greek society as a whole. Now it is time to move forward, united together, and draw up a “Contract with Society” for Greek tourism.

Today’s conditions require a more extensive and effective clustering of our society, to support the main wealth-producing source of our country: Greek tourism. All Greek citizens must embrace the effort with will and a sense of responsibility. Tourism is everyone’s business with no exceptions.

Our efforts of the previous period, despite the difficult and unprecedented circumstances we were up against, were fruitful and brought a recovery in incoming tourism for 2011.

We must, all together, ensure peace within our country and mitigate the unfavorable image on an international level. Thus, Greek tourism will deliver double benefits for the national economy and employment and will become the key driver for Greece’s exit from the crisis.

Therefore, the need to unite and bring together all forces of the Greek society is more timely and urgent than ever.

It is necessary for all of us to protect Greek tourism.