Destinations

Six different thematic units, 152 events totaling 17.5 million euros, three international conferences and one large pan-European meeting of amateur and young artists will make up the program of events for Patras 2006: European Capital of Culture.

The Acropolis in Athens and the Agia Sophia church in Istanbul are among 21 sites competing to be named among the new Seven Wonders of the World, organizers of an Internet vote said last month.

Athens is about to bloom and blossom in colors and art that promises to please the eye. This summer, Athenians and visitors to the capital will see more than 75 artistic and colorful cows “graze” around the city’s streets and parks.

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis and Attica Region Secretary General Haralambos Maniatis early last month presented the results of major surveys undertaken by the company Leo Burnett concerning the promotion of Athens and Attica tourism. For the most part, the results were very positive.

An investment group announced last month that it plans to spend, in the medium term, up to 1 billion euros in Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Turkey to develop organized tourism accommodation complexes, mainly for northern Europeans. In Greece its interest focuses on the Peloponnese, Central Greece and the Cyclades.

Nymphaion, which not so very long ago was an isolated, abandoned village of 35 elderly inhabitants in northern Greece, has come to life again. The settlement and surrounding area has been transformed into a living museum of national heritage and unspoiled nature, population has tripled.

China is becoming the world’s largest outbound market with departures of 28.5 million in 2004 and an increase of 9.6%, taking the number up to 15 million, for the first half of 2005. Tourism bodies are keenly monitoring the Chinese outbound market, which is estimated to explode to no less than 100 million travelers by 2020, and with each traveler spending $175 per day.

Eurail is adding a new Eurail Pass Category and new country combinations to the Eurail Regional Pass for 2006. For the first time in its history, Eurail offers single-country rail passes, starting Jan. 1.

Avgi village in Kastoria has created a new way to entice tourists. The powers to be have taken the area’s Neolithic past to heart and have created a tourism product where visitors get a taste of life in the Stone Age.

The City of Athens Tourism and Economic Development Agency is distributing a new city map at City of Athens tourist info centers throughout the Greek capital. The map includes useful information for visitors including how to get around the city, transportation (metro, tramcar, trolley, bus and suburban rail) schedules, useful phone numbers and opening hours/ticket prices for museums and sites.