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From November 4 to 6 of this year, Athens will host the Europe Corporate Games. The festival includes 16 athletic events with the participation of thousands of executives from more than 150 companies throughout Europe.

The Greek Chamber of Hotels says that the increase in opening hours of shops and museums in the country, as recently proposed by the government, is a positive step towards bolstering tourism.

Amadeus, the travel industry technology provider and leading Global Distribution System (GDS), announced that TAROM, Romania’s national airline, has successfully moved its sales and reservations to Amadeus Altea Sell.

If you have yet to make arrangements to attend the International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin, which runs from 11 to 15 March on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and in the ICC Berlin, the chances are you’ll be staying home.

Attica Holdings (Superfast and Blue Star Ferries) announced late last month that it had reached an agreement with an Italian company, represented by Romano Artioili, for the acquisition of more than 6.7 million shares of Minoan Lines. The purchase represents 9.51% of the share capital of Minoan at a price of 3.30 euros per share. Attica says the finalization of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the Athens Stock Exchange with reference to block of trading transactions.

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis last month submitted a proposal before City Council to establish a tourism development agency, in cooperation with the private sector, as part of efforts to raise the Greek capital’s profile as a year-round tourist destination.

Greece’s tourism promotion campaign steams ahead in both Europe and the USA. The first phase of the 60-million-euro campaign has been completed and the second phase is now in full force.

Two of the “Three Tenors” will perform at separate events this summer at Greece’s annual Hellenic Festival, organizers announced last month.

The Colossus of Rhodes will rise again, if ambitious plans by the mayor of Rodos, Yiannis Iatridis, to rebuild the ancient statue come to fruition. Mayor Iatridis said that Cypriot sculptor Nikos Gotziamanis had undertaken both to carry out the project and find funding for it.

The nearby island of Salamina is out to pick up a reputation as a tourism destination. Its mayor, Vangelis Agapiou, says a major campaign is now underway to entice visitors to the island. “Although I don’t expect to see many visitors from abroad, I do expect to see a substantial increase in the number of domestic visitors,” he says.