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The Hellenic Tourism Organization now offers a special Greek cuisine emblem to any eating establishment that adheres to some very strict health, hygiene and quality standards. During a special event held to launch the emblem, the minister explained that today’s tourist wants not only contact with nature and history but also to taste life in the country he or she visits.

After summer inspections of a good portion of the 351 Greek beach properties awarded the prestigious 2001 Blue Flag designation, 23 beaches were stripped of their award. The inspectors came from the head organization, the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe, and the local operator, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.

The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington last month dealt a terrible blow to the tourism industry, but officials of the World Tourism Organization predict that the industry will demonstrate its characteristic resilience with a quick recovery.

Greece’s cruise industry, because a significant portion of its business comes from North American customers, is in for a tough time. Along with this, the industry also has to deal with the possible surge in oil prices, the likelihood of a global recession, the difficulties in air travel and the psychological shock from the terrible pictures of the World Trade Center towers shown worldwide. All these are expected to play a significant role in shaping the industry both in the short term and long term.

Most of the organized beach properties in the Athens region are soon to be leased to the private sector for development and management. So far, 10-year lease agreements have been signed for the beach properties at Alimos and Vouliagmenis between Hellenic Tourism Properties and a construction-company-led consortium called Attikes Aktes. The beach properties at A Voula and B Voula, as well as at Varkiza, were turned over to a group led by Vernicos Yachts.

Three of the Greek capital’s most popular marinas are about to go private.  Last month, just two days after it handed over the operation and upgrading of five state-owned beaches …

World Travel Market 2001 (12-15 November) in London, is to turn the spotlight on the latest ‘buzzword’ for the industry – effective customer relationship management (CRM). In partnership with KPMG, one of the world’s leading professional services firms, World Travel Market will lead the industry one step beyond e-travel with a high profile debate ‘Who Cares?’

Nine of Europe’s leading airlines recently unveiled plans to move into the online travel market with the launch this year of a new online travel service, that sells flights and other travel products direct to the consumer.

Michael Ghiolman of Ghiolman Yachts-Travel-Aviation hopes to get his name in the Guiness Book of World Records with his yacht Nidri. The Greek-built ‘Skipper 53,’ he says, was chartered out for the longest term ever by a broker, and accordingly Mr. Ghiolman has sent an application to Guiness publishers attesting to the fact.

The roll-on, roll-off ferry vessel Superfast XI last month was slid gracefully down the slipway of the Flender shipyard in Lubeck, Germany, into the waters of the Baltic Sea launched at. The 200-meter-long Superfast XI, built for Superfast Ferries’ holding company, Attica Enterprises, can carry 1,550 passengers. It will be delivered in the first quarter of next year. A second sister ship is due in the second quarter of next year.