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Traffic on our new routes is even better than we expected, says Blue Star Ferries (Strintzis Lines) sales and marketing director, Michalis Sakelis. “We are particularly pleased and pleasantly surprised with the traffic on our new Piraeus-Chania route,” he says.

In the midst of yet another international crisis, and a slow economy, Greeks took full advantage of this year’s Panorama tourism fair, the eighth, in hopes of finding some special deals and domestic holiday possibilities this year. Exhibitors said they were truly surprised at the numbers and the level of visitors to this year’s fair. Most had to get a special delivery of additional brochures and promotional material in order to satisfy demand.

Piraeus-based Blue Star Ferries now runs a ferry route from Piraeus to Chania, Crete, with its newbuild Blue Star 2. The journey takes a mere five hours and 45 minutes. The vessel, built in 2000, plies the route at a speed of 28 miles an hour and carries up to 1,900 passengers and 700 vehicles. Blue Star 2 leaves Piraeus daily at 16:00 and leaves Chania daily at 23:30.

More than a million visitors are expected to flock to Athens to watch the action at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. According to the Athens 2004 committee, foreign visitors during the two weeks of the Games will total somewhere between 500,000 and 700,000. Another 300,000 are expected from throughout Greece, and that includes volunteers. Then there are the 65,000 members that are directly involved in the Games.

Hellenic Festival has announced its program for both the Athens Festival and Epidaurus Festival. The Athens Festival begins June 2 with Andrea Bocelli in Concert. Programs continue through until September 28. These include opera, classical and contemporary dance, orchestras, recitals and classical and modern theater, as well as special performances.

Worldspan has announced a technology agreement with Hotwire.com, a leading discount travel site, to power Hotwire’s airline bookings. As part of the new partnership, Worldspan will supply Hotwire with an enhanced technology agreement, which includes a range of essential technology services and utilizes state-of-the-art pricing solutions.

Travel agencies worldwide connected to Amadeus can now sell seats on Germanwings, the new German low-fare carrier. On 1 April 2003, Germanwings joined other low fare airlines already available through the Amadeus System, such as Virgin Express, Zip Air, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Sterling, AirTran Airways and AirAsia.

An agreement was signed last month by Travel Transaction Processing Corporation to purchase Worldspan from its three airline owners (Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and American Airlines).

Berlin’s international tourism exhibition last month was an eye opener for some but a chance to carry out substantial business for others. Stands at Greece’s pavilion were perhaps the least visited while stands at neighboring pavilions (France, Portugal, Spain) welcomed a steady stream of visitors.

Greece’s passenger shipping association says its sector is in for a difficult time this year. It wants government to help soften the blow with a cut in port costs, and subsidies for new employees, for newbuildings, and for employee insurance. It also wants a 50% increase in advertising abroad funds. But although most cruise lines are concerned, they are also upbeat.