Destinations

Italy was voted favorite European country in this year’s Telegraph Travel Awards reader’s survey followed by Greece and Switzerland.

Athens was last on the list of ideal European cities for the accommodation of business. The 19th European Cities Monitor annual survey, carried out by international real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, compares Europe’s major business cities and indicates their performance in key categories ranging from the best cities in which to locate a business to the availability of qualified staff.

A 25-year term contract for the construction and management of the Piraeus port’s new exhibition center in Palataki was recently signed.

A recent familiarization tour of the region of Western Macedonia and specifically to the prefectures of Kozani, Florina, Kastoria and Grevena, brought journalists and travel agents closer to the advantages that makes this a worthwhile all-year-round destination.

Fourteen Greek coasts, winners of the ‘Blue Flags’ international program for environmental education, information and awareness were recently dropped from the 2008 list and lost their award.

A recent study shows that tourists to Greece’s capital spend more money, visit more sites and keep hotels more profitable, and it appears that the trend will continue.

Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recently visited Larissa and refered to the significant growth prospects of the prefecture.

The promotion campaign of tourist destinations of the region of Thessalia (Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala and Magnessia—Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos) was recently completed with countable results.

The Prefect of Kavala recently referred to a series of improvements that have been made within the prefecture as well as to Thassos Island that includes the improvement of hotel infrastructure and services.

The plan to construct a theme park in Lavrion, which will resemble the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia and the city Lijiang (Yunnan province in northern China), was recently approved by the town’s municipal council.