X Industry news

The European tourism sector proved resilient last year yet again as it prepares for 2019 uncertainties, according to the latest report of the European Travel Commission (ETC).

The ports of Piraeus, Venice and Chioggia will be cooperating for the increase of cargo flows and the strengthening of trade links between Asia and the Mediterranean.

Citizens from 21 countries can now avoid long wait times in queues on arrival to Thailand, following the launch of the new eVisa On Arrival service.

Norwegian has announced direct flights between Athens International Airport (AIA) and New York’s JFK Airport for summer 2019.

Greece welcomed the fastest growth in arrivals from Canada during the first nine months of 2018, according to the European Travel Commission (ETC).

Greek companies attracted a total capital of 5.5 billion euros in 2018, according to a report on “Deals in Greece” published by financial advisor PwC.

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura has become an honorary member of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation, which aims to develop international tourism policies, focusing on the Mediterranean.

EU lawmakers have approved a final draft of an existing copyright law, which among others aims to ensure that rights holders are properly recompensed for their works.

The European Commission is forecasting a 2.2 percent growth for the Greek economy in 2019, following the completion of its bailout program last August.

Israeli tech firms have expressed interest in working with Greece to promote tourism synergies through new technologies.

Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) President Grigoris Tasios expressed his dissatisfaction with government officials who “have failed to effectively address hoteliers’ problems”.

Athens mayoral candidate, Kostas Bakoyannis, informed Greece’s tourism body SETE that increasing city break tourists to the Greek capital is at the heart of his plan.

More than 700,000 travelers from Israel are expected to visit Greece in 2019, according to figures released by the Greek Tourism Ministry.

The Region of Western Greece has secured 1 million euros in EU funding for tourism promotional activities for the 2019-2021 period.

Hellas Cert, a Greek association of inspection bodies, is calling on the government to re-examine a law that changes the way rented rooms are certified.

Some 25,000 individuals employed in room and apartment rentals, and in the F&B sector, will now be receiving monthly wages of up to 771 euros.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released global passenger traffic results for 2018 showing that demand rose by a healthy 6.5% compared to full-year 2017.

Greece’s 14 regional airports run by Fraport Greece registered a 12.3% rise in passenger traffic in January this year, compared to the same month in 2018.

Georgia Karastathi, an attorney to the Supreme Court of Greece, has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Greek Tourism Ministry.

The Greek Tourism Ministry is looking to position Greece among the top accessible tourism destinations and is promoting its beaches that are friendly to persons with mobility problems.