Destinations

Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recently announced the immediate transformation of the Xenia hotel in Argostoli (Kefallonia) into a boutique hotel and a modern conference center, which will run all-year round.

The management agency of the islands of Karpathos and Sarias—a bureau of the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works—recently organized a scientific conference in the town Olympos of Karpathos.

The City of Athens recently remodelled Avdi Square in Metaxourgio, increased the amount and quality of greenery, improved lighting and renewed tile surfaces.

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis recently launched a cool recreational oasis for residents of the Votanikos area—a revamped square on the corner of Spyrou Patsi and Sidirokastrou streets.

The tourism development ministry announced the prefectural administration of Grevena is the tourism destination that was chosen to represent Greece in the European Commission’s pilot project “European Destinations of Excellence” (EDEN) with the theme “tourism and local intangible heritage.”

The tender for the exploitation of the property at Alikes in Anavyssos is currently in its second phase with three contenders in this stage. These are the consortium of Lamda Development, Reds and Lampsa S.A. (the hotel Grande Bretagne), the Steggou Group with Porto Carras Casino and J & P Avax. South African interest company Greek Lifestyle Investments was excluded from the second phase of the tender.

Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos met Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis recently to discuss joint action and cooperation between the tourism development ministry and the City of Athens. Mr. Kaklamanis asserted, “Municipal administration considers the city’s economic development to be a key priority and since this development concerns mainly the city’s tourism identity it is imperative that our actions are coordinated.”

Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis and Mayor of Sofia Boyko Borisov signed a protocol of peace and cooperation between the two cities. The protocol specifies an exchange of information on public sector management between Greece’s capital and the capital of Bulgaria, that is, management of human resources, cultural activities and tourism, youth and athleticism and the protection of the environment.

A recent independent survey conducted in Japan showed Corfu as the second most popular destination for Japanese tourists in 2007 amongst UNESCO world heritage site destinations. Japanese tourists are renowned for picking destinations from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, of which Corfu’s old town (pictured) was inscribed on in 2007.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots recently reopened Ledra Street, a major crossing in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia. Local officials declared Ledra Street, which stood as a symbol to the island’s partition, open. It was then closed again for a couple of hours by the Greek Cypriots, after what they called an illegal Turkish Cypriot police patrol only to be shortly re-opened on mediation by United Nations officials.