2017 Year in Review – GTP

Everyone from A-rated Hollywood actors and popular athletes to fun-loving fashionistas and sexy models are taking in a bit of sea and sun in Greece.

The Greek island of Kos in the Dodecanese was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.4 magnitude in the early hours of Friday, July 21.

The hospitality sector in Greece this year is welcoming the opening of new hotels in Athens and in different parts of the country.

Athens’ section of the “documenta 14” art show attracted some 300,000 visitors during the last three months and will close its doors on July 16.

NBG Pangaea Real Estate Investment Company has signed a franchise agreement with Marriott International to open Greece’s debut Moxy hotel.

Mobile roaming charges in the European Union will be lifted from June 15 and travelers will be able to “roam like at home” in all 28 countries of the EU.

All laws and rules involving the Greek tourism sector, dating back to over 100 years, have been brought together and codified.

The Region of Attica signed a 150 million euro agreement with construction firm Aktor for the redevelopment of the Faliro Delta.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels announced a new classification procedure for accommodation in Greece and invites professionals to apply for certification.

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) has elected Yiannis Retsos as its new president. Retsos, who previously served as first vice president, succeeds Andreas Andreadis.

Greece ranked second place in the world, among 47 countries, on the 2017 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches and marinas.

Greece made an impressive climb of seven places in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017.

An amendment tabled in Parliament brings changes to a fee, known as the ‘spatosimo’, imposed on airline tickets of passengers travelling from Greek airports.

Over 1.3 billion euros of Cohesion Policy funds will be invested in a series of projects in Greece, according to the European Commission.

US President Donald Trump proclaimed March 25 as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.

Fraport Greece has released plans on the development works for the upgrade of the facilities of the 14 Greek regional airports it will soon manage.

Greek female tourism professionals – owners of accommodation enterprises, family-run businesses, restaurants, tavernas, shops and stores, as well as government officials – made their presence felt at this year’s ITB …

Emirates’ much-awaited first direct flight to New York from Athens took off from Athens International Airport on Sunday, March 12.

Scoot, a subsidiary of the Singapore Airlines Group, will expand into Europe from June 20 with four flights a week between Singapore and Athens.

Giorgos Kaminis (Athens) and Spiros Galinos (Lesvos) are among the 10 most outstanding mayors in the world, according to the World Mayor 2016 competition.