President,
General Pan-Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises
PHILOXENIA 2011 greeting.
The international exhibition of Philoxenia, a meeting point for tourism and entrepreneurship, is conducted in the interim of the Greek financial crisis.
As one of the largest and long-lasting federations in tourism, we express our deepest gratitude to all participants of the exhibition, who keep on supporting and investing in the Greek tourism product. And of course to GTP—the major travel and tourism guide in Greece providing valuable information about tourism professionals—for its support throughout the years.
The current situation is difficult.
Incoming tourism is truly growing, although the numbers reflect recreational tourist vacation and not sightseeing vacation of travelers that visit several Greek areas. The latter type of tourists is the one spending a great deal of money to several enterprises and their contribution to taxation is extremely important through visits to several resorts, archaeological sites and museums.
Unfortunately, the turnover of Greek travel agents, which has dropped by more than 30 percent during the first half of 2011, according to the Greek Statistics Service, verify the above point.
We are going through a period of severe adjustment and the tourism industry in Greece will soon look different, especially after the new laws concerning the liberalization of services take effect.
The General Pan-Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises, which represents members and unions from all over the country specialized in incoming and outgoing tourism, coaches, travel agencies, tour operators, shipping agents and yacht brokers, keeps up with the latest trends.
We believe that alternative forms of tourism and focusing on the most profitable markets with the highest per capita expenditure, will lead to significant growth in the Greek economy and prosperity in the travel business throughout Greece.
We wish a constructive and profitable season during the forthcoming year 2012.
Best of luck to all.
