Destinations

The biggest and what appears to be the best Paralympic Games in history began in style last month as fireworks and illuminations lit up the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.

The German commandant of forces on Leros in 1943 was among the veterans and dignitaries from Greece and abroad, including Britain, Germany, and Italy, that took part in the first international symposium on the Battle of Leros to be held on the island on the 61th anniversary of the conflict.

Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos continually emphasizes the importance of changing Greece’s tourism image, and at every press opportunity he stresses the importance of Greek history and culture. Millions of guests during the Athens 2004 Games have had a taste of the best Greece has to offer and they will no doubt spread the word.

With the long-awaited opening of the Rio-Antirio bridge across the western end of the Gulf of Corinth — Rio on the Peloponnesian side and Antirio on the northern coast – tourism to the area is expected to increase by leaps and bounds. And according to some initial estimates, Antirio’s population will triple over the next 15 years.

Numbers of visitors to popular Greek destinations outside of the general Athens area – passengers on scheduled flights arriving at Athens International Airport were up 14% during the first half of the year when compared with the same period last year – may not be as high as last year, but not all destinations are suffering.

Greece’s prefectures get 30% more than last year in funds for tourism promotion from the Hellenic Tourism Organization. Deputy Tourism Minister Anastassios Liaskos told reporters last month that the funds allocated this year amount to 4.5 million euros, against the three million awarded to prefecture tourism committees last year.

Hellenic Railways Organization announced last month that it has completed most of the renovation project being carried out on the popular scenic railway line connecting Diakopto and Kalavryta. It said the Diakopto-Kalavryta Cog Railway system is ready to receive the new trains that have been ordered by the organization, and enthusiastic summer passengers.

The tourism boom around one of the world’s most popular summer holiday destinations, the Mediterranean Sea, is endangering freshwater supplies and tourists in the area must cut their consumption, the environmental group WWF said in an announcement last month.

Hotel Terra Maris, next to the Creta Maris, hosts the first international tourism school on Crete. Markos Komninakis, director of studies for new Trinity International Hospitality Studies says three-year programs begin this October. Accredited studies range from hospitality and tourism management to culinary management to convention and event management.

All of Greece’s top government leaders met last month with the International Exhibition Office’s inspection committee to discuss guarantees for the holding of Expo 2008 in Thessaloniki. The committee then visited Thessaloniki to request clear guarantees of the city’s capability to organize Expo in 2008.