More News

The Mayor of Athens has embraced the Athens Every Week program and contributes to the tourism policy of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, part of which is the development of urban centers to city break destinations, according to the Greek National Tourism Organization’s secretary general, Yiorgos Koletsos.

In an effort to solve the legal dispute between Greek-flag Louis Cruises and the Greek Seamen’s Pension Fund (NAT) in regards to unpaid contributions, the Maritime Affairs Ministry recently tabled a law amendment in Parliament until an irrevocable judicial decision is made.

Greek cruise seemed to be on the up during January-March 2011 as cruise ship arrivals in Piraeus Port increased by 5.1 percent and passenger arrivals increased by 58.1 percent, compared to 2010 figures, according to Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) Chairman and CEO Yiorgos Anomeritis.

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) recently expressed concern to the Greek Coast Guard in regards to plans to implement identity checks (check-in) of persons that board passenger ships.

“Amadeus Hellas will continue to support travel professionals in every possible way in order to enable the success in their business efforts,” General Manager Amadeus Hellas Eva Karamanou told GTP during a specially designed one-day seminar for travel agencies organized for the first time in Athens, Greece, by global distribution system provider Amadeus.

Athens citizens had the opportunity to better plan their summer vacation among a vast variety of top Greek destinations last month at the 5th Summer Holidays Expo international fair held at the Helexpo Palace exhibition center in Marousi, Athens.

Coastal shipping tickets are expected to be at least 10 percent cheaper this summer as dues for third parties are to be eliminated from the price, Prime Minister George Papandreou announced last month at the 19th General Assembly of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE).

The Acropolis site will be open daily, except Mondays, from 8 am-7 pm throughout the year, Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos announced on 18 May, International Museum Day.

“We intend to highlight the elements of the city that remain attractive and interest Greek and foreign visitors, which contribute to the upgrading of the tourism experience in Athens and bring immediate benefits to the local economy,” the president of the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company (ATEDCo), Yiorgos Broulias, said last month.

Prime Minister George Papandreou chaired a Cabinet meeting last month after a week of street violence occurred in an Athens city district and announced a series of measures aimed to revamp the Greek capital’s historic center.