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Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced 2008 would be a record year for the cruise industry with their members carrying some 12.8 million passengers, of which 10.5 million are from North America and 2.3 million from other markets.

Celebrity Cruises recently announced an industry-first on their newest cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice, as 2,130 square meters of its top deck surface would be covered with real growing grass set in an innovative new country club environment known as “The Lawn Club.”

More than 60 hearts sponsored by the business community and painted or sculptured by established or upcoming artists and eminent local personalities have been strategically displayed in specific locations around the city of Athens and will remain there until the 19th of March. The fiberglass, metal and wooden hearts grace several Metro stations, Syntagma Square and Ermou Avenue, Technopolis and many other key points so that according to the organizers, “We can admire them, we can love them, we can judge them, we can touch them and they will touch us with their sensitivity and their messages; strolling by, we will fancy them, we will stop to take a picture of them and we will look for them throughout the city.”

Mayor of Thessaloniki Vassilios Papageorgopoulos recently announced the municipality of Thessaloniki would take part in the European Union “Open Air Museum” project. The project is part of the Interreg IIIB Medocc program and is 80 percent funded by the European Union and 20 percent by the ministry of economy and finance. This project, according to the mayor of Thessaloniki, “constitutes evidence of the progress made with regard to the realization of European programs and the utilization of vital European Union funding.”

The government of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) officially announced its decision to establish a United Arab Emirates embassy in Athens. To date the U.A.E embassy had its headquarters in Rome.

Thessaloniki Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) recently revealed statistics that show Thessaloniki saw a 25 percent increase in conferences compared with 2006. In 2007 TCVB recorded 224 conferences, compared with 179 in 2006, 131 conferences in 2005 and 115 in 2004.

Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recently announced ministry aims, actions and initiatives for 2008. The primary aim, according to Mr. Spiliotopoulos, is “Upgrading the Greek tourism product but most importantly attracting higher quality incoming tourism.”

The tourism development ministry has initiated the process for the creation of tourism studies courses in public higher education facilities. Secretary General of Tourism Spyros Efstathopoulos, under the directive of Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos, has initiated the procedure by which these courses would be held at the University of Piraeus.

Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis announced the Greek capital is now a member of C40 Cities. C40 is an international initiative comprised of 40 major cities that have joined forces to help combat climate change.

Greece and Italy formed an alliance for rural tourism development through the European Union initiative “Leader+.” The Leader+ program is one of four initiatives financed by European Union structural funds and is designed to help rural administartions consider the long-term potential of their local region.