Greece’s Ombudsman is warning that lack of clear urban and spatial plans is creating loopholes for illegal tourism constructions impacting the long-term viability of the sector.
Maria Paravantes
Maria Paravantes
Chicago-born and raised, Maria Paravantes has over two decades of journalistic experience covering tourism and travel, gastronomy, arts, music and culture, economy and finance, politics, health and social issues for international press and media. She has worked for Reuters, The Telegraph, Huffington Post, Billboard Magazine, Time Out Athens, the Athens News, Odyssey Magazine and SETimes.com, among others. She has also served as Special Advisor to Greece’s minister of Foreign Affairs, and to the mayor of Athens on international press and media issues. Maria is currently a reporter, content and features writer for GTP Headlines.
-
-
Greece is in the top 3 cruise tourism destinations in the Mediterranean welcoming 7 million passengers and 5,230 cruise ship port calls in 2023.
-
The 1st Olympus Adrenaline & Nature Festival held in Litochoro, Pieria, brought together local tourism professionals and offered visitors the chance to learn more about year-round experiences in the region.
-
UNESCO calls on Greece and the UK to resolve the Parthenon Marbles dispute taking into account the historical, cultural, legal, and moral dimensions of the issue.
-
Greece’s hoteliers are calling on the government to improve infrastructure and to formulate a 10-year strategy to keep the country’s tourism product competitive.
-
The majority of swimming sites in Europe were found to be of exceptional quality in 2023 with those in Greece among the Top 5.
-
Staff, parts, and plane shortages are set to drive global air fares higher as demand for travel continues to grow.
-
The 13-station main line of the Thessaloniki metro will begin operations in November, with an extension to Kalamaria to be delivered next year.
-
The first meeting of Greece’s Regional Tourism Council highlighted the need for equal promotion and key infrastructure projects in all of the country’s regions.
-
The Greek Finance Ministry announced changes to a bill paving the way for dozens of projects funded by national or EU resources to move forward.
-
The Greek Marinas Association is calling for the revision of a ports and marinas law that will enable dozens of projects to move forward in view of strong competition.
-
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas is calling for the implementation of height restriction laws in efforts to put a stop to the unregulated increase in the number of new high rise …
-
Thessaloniki needs to first complete major infrastructure projects before it can establish itself as a top tourist destination, study finds.
-
AIA - Athens Airport Updates
Athens Airport Expects 30m Arrivals in 2024, Revises Revenue Forecast Upward
Athens Airport’s CEO adjusted initial revenue projections upward in light of positive Q1 data, forecasting arrivals to reach 30 million in 2024.
-
Occupancy levels at Athens hotels in Q1 increased to 63.5% with the average room rate at 98.47 euros.
-
Although Thessaloniki is winning over travelers with its food and fun, lack of cleanliness, noise, and traffic are taking a toll on visitors’ satisfaction levels.
-
Greece has designated 198 beaches as protected and announced the launch of the ‘MyCoast’ platform for shoreline use auctions and violation reports.
-
Greece expanded its commitments to a bluer economy announcing the creation of a 2-billion-euro Decarbonization Fund for the Greek islands.
-
Mass tourism and overconstruction are taking a toll on three Greek islands listed among Europe’s seven most endangered sites.
-
Hoteliers argue that short-term rental operations should be charged for rising costs of municipal services in Athens.