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Olympic installations will remain in the hands of the state and will leave a lasting legacy by making Attica a year-round tourist attraction and by upgrading the quality of life of local residents, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said during a recent press call.

The Hellenic Tourism Organization has set the development of alternative forms of tourism as a priority, the organization’s secretary-general, Haris Kokkosis, told a special event on winter tourism that was held just days after the gover-nment’s new development bill was announced.

Youthful elderly people in Greece, especially when they have a satisfactory pension, are beginning to change the traditional image. They now have a social life as they go to the theater or the cinema frequently, they meet friends for meals, and they travel – to the extent that their finances permit.

This year’s Philoxenia tourism fair, the 20th, was another successful one according to its organizing body, Hel-expo. It announced increases in stand participation and increases in the number of visitors.

There were no unpleasant surprises at his year’s World Travel Market held in London last month. On the contrary, the tourism fair was again extremely well organized and and a pleasant experience for most. As well, it was a pleasant surprise to see a new, modern pavilion created by the Hellenic Tourism Organization.

Greece’s first conference on the meetings industry, organized last month by Kostas Konstantinidis of Heliotopos Conferences, welcomed some 140 delegates. Few of these, however, were hoteliers or regional authority leaders who could have gained valuable knowledge on a sector of the tourism industry that could serve them well.

Perhaps the best and most professional tourism conference ever organized in Athens was organized and superbly executed last month by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. The conference not only started on time but also started without the usual barrage of empty speeches by politicians. As well, the conference hall remained full right up to the very last speaker.

Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines announced last month that it would have a new company set up and running cruises out of Piraeus by March of next year. The first ships, Calypso and Ithaki, will execute three- four- and seven-day cruises out of Piraeus.

By year-end, Minoan Lines expects to post triple the amount of its last year’s net profit of 3.5 million euros. Highly placed company executives say that their forecast takes into account all of the negative factors of the economy that could affect coastal shipping.

Hellas Flying Dolphins says it will start off the new year with two new catamarans to be named Flyingcat 5 and Flyingcat 6. The new vessels are scheduled to ply the North Sporades linking the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos with the ports at Volos and Aghios Konstantinos.