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If the country’s beach environment was part of this year’s Olympic Games, Greece would pick up the Silver medal this year. Beach properties in the country were awarded a record 378 Blue Flags, against 373 last year, and seven of its marinas now fly the coveted award (five last year). The only one of the participating countries that did better was “Gold medal” winner Spain with Blue Flags on 450 of its beaches and 68 marinas.

After three years of intensive renovations, and the restoration of some 9,000 statues and precious artifacts, the National Archaeological Museum in Athens reopened its doors to the public last month. Although only 32 of the 54 exhibition halls have reopened, visitors are sure to be pleased with the results.

SkyTeam airline representatives here in Greece arranged two workshops last month – one for major corporate accounts within the Athens area and one for up-market travel agents in Thessaloniki. During both events, representatives of the member airlines explained the many advantages of the alliance. They also unveiled SkyTeam’s newest slogan: “working together to bring you seamless world travel.”

This year’s Panorama, the ninth, which ran from April 22-25 at the Piraeus Port Authority Exhibition Center, was dedicated to the Athens-Attica area and the network of Olympic Cities. But like the tourism picture in general this year, Panorama left exhibitors and visitors with mixed feelings.

The Evgenidou Foundation Athens Observatory was the venue for one of the most impressive press conferences this year and was organized by Sueprfast Ferries to present the company’s Superfast team of track and field stars. This year’s team includes five of the most promising athletes in Greece.

Hotel Terra Maris, next to the Creta Maris, hosts the first international tourism school on Crete. Markos Komninakis, director of studies for new Trinity International Hospitality Studies says three-year programs begin this October. Accredited studies range from hospitality and tourism management to culinary management to convention and event management.

After the last few years with red ink on its balance sheet, Hellas Flying Dolphins is back in the black with a net profit for 2003 of some 7.1 million euros, against a loss of 49.3 million euros the year before.

Blue Star Ferries announced that it broke the half a million mark in passengers carried on its Piraeus-Chania route. On March 24 the Greek ferry line’s electronic Check-in system on board encountered the route’s 500,001 passenger as she boarded with her ticket in hand.

All of Greece’s top government leaders met last month with the International Exhibition Office’s inspection committee to discuss guarantees for the holding of Expo 2008 in Thessaloniki. The committee then visited Thessaloniki to request clear guarantees of the city’s capability to organize Expo in 2008.

The City of Athens is spending 4.8 million euros to aesthetically redevelop and make more operational one of its most important monuments, Lycabettus Hill, which hovers 1,000 feet over the city. All renovation works on the hill will be completed by the summer, and all works will meet ecological standards and follow extensive environmental studies.