Initiatives

Once again this summer, from June through September, Forum magazine’s campaign “Beautiful Greece is a Clean Greece” gave bathers a chance to enjoy spotless and well-organized beaches.

The Arab-Hellenic Chamber in cooperation with the Messinia Chamber organized a humanitarian aid effort to ease some of the suffering in war-torn Lebanon.

Greece is one of four partner countries, namely, Cyprus, Italy and Malta, involved in a program to develop a Mediterranean standard for sustainable tourism (MSST).

Expedia, the world’s largest online travel agency, last month announced a partnership with the United Nations Foundation to promote travel to World Heritage sites. The move is part of Expedia’s strategy to raise its international profile, provide more customized services and offer original content.

A special inter-ministerial meeting on the Olympic Games last month reiterated promises to render Athens more compatible with the needs of physically disabled people ahead of next September’s Paralympics.

A theme park inspired by ancient Greek mythology opens in the Anavyssos area, south of Athens, in 2004 and by when all phases are fully completed, in 2006, the park is expected to attract up to 1.2 million visitors per year.

Leading travel and tourism industry associations from around the world have collaborated on a joint statement asking governments to work together in partnership to address concerns facing the global travel and tourism industry.

The Hellenic Tourism Organization now offers a special Greek cuisine emblem to any eating establishment that adheres to some very strict health, hygiene and quality standards. During a special event held to launch the emblem, the minister explained that today’s tourist wants not only contact with nature and history but also to taste life in the country he or she visits.

Work has started on what is proposed to be the biggest and most modern golf course in Greece, the Crete Golf Club. The 18-hole course of 6,400 yards (720 stremma), just 20 kilometers from Heraklion’s international airport, will be built on Par 72 Championship standard. The unit will boast two driving ranges and a state-of-the-art Golf Academy, complete with practice putting greens and a ‘short game’ practice area.

At a recent press call, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said his ministry was, preparing an “Olympic tourism package” that will address several areas of the industry, including existing infrastructure and the quality of tourist services. He stated it would be a strategic policy plan aimed at expanding and improving the tourism sector.