MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)

For Greece to become a more attractive tourism destination, investment must be oriented to improving quality of life by combining the uniqueness of the Greek lifestyle experience with the standards and values created by global community, says the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE).

The first International Tourism Salon (ITS) – Athens 2006 will be held November 30 through December 3 at the Piraeus Port Authority Center (OLP).

For the first time in its 45-year history, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) will hold its annual meetings in Greece at the Sofitel Capsis Hotel and “Marika Capsis 2000” Center on Rodos.

Athens will host next year’s City Break exhibition, and European Cities Tourism’s (ECT) annual conference, which is also the sponsor of the exhibition.

For the first time, a cultural and heritage tourism conference will be held at the Philoxenia tourism fair, November 16-19. Holding a conference during the popular and well-attended Philoxenia fair trade show is a new concept being promoted by Helexpo, the fair organizer, and the Alexandreion Technological Education Institute of Thessaloniki.

Greece is aiming to be one of the top five tourism destinations, said Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, at the first forum organized by the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce & Development. The minister added that “this is an achievable goal since the country is ranked 15th while studies show that it is only using 15 percent of its tourism potential.”

The Second General Assembly and Annual Congress of the European Federation of the Associations of PCOs will take place at the Helexpo Congress and Exhibition Centre in Athens December 8th through the 10th.

In an unprecedented initiative, European Union Transportation Commissioner Jacques Barrot convened a meeting of Europe’s aviation industry leaders and their regulators for a one-day conference in Brussels titled, “The Future of Aviation Regulation in Europe.”

Next month, the second international tourism forum will take place on Rodos. This year’s theme is Competitiveness Through Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges for Mediterranean Destinations.”

The Association for Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) is holding its fifth Tourism and Development Conference in Athens on October 16 and 17.