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At a recent press call, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said his ministry was, preparing an “Olympic tourism package” that will address several areas of the industry, including existing infrastructure and the quality of tourist services. He stated it would be a strategic policy plan aimed at expanding and improving the tourism sector.

This year’s domestic fair, Panorama 2000, held last month at the Peace & Friendship Stadium, proved to be the biggest, the best and the most successful to date. “It was not only the size and the well-designed stands that made this year’s fair so impressive,” said one seasoned exhibitor, “but also the caliber of visitors, both from the professional side and the consumer side.”

With Greece’s largest conference center to date, the Kipriotis Group on the island of Kos will host the Association of British Travel Agents’ (ABTA) annual conference, to be held October 27-31. Greece was chose over several of its Mediterranean competitors including up-and- coming Portugal, which has submitted bids to host the event of three occasions. Some 2,500 representatives of UK travel agents will fly directly to Kos for the convention.

Minoan Flying Dolphins, which claims to be the biggest coastal shipping company in the world with revenue of 43 billion drachmas and a fleet of 77 vessels, increases it route frequencies. In particular, travellers heading to the Cyclades in the height of summer should find it easier to secure a seat on a Highspeed catamaran this year.

Festival Cruises and P&O Cruises announced last month that they would join forces in order to expand in the global cruise business. Festival, one of the Europe’s leading cruise lines, becomes a world cruise company once forces and joined with P&O, Princes and Germany’s Aida Cruises. All of Festival’s cruise businesses will be included in the merger.

At its recent general assembly, Greek ferry line Strintzis received approval to increase its capital by almost 28 billion drachmas through the issuance of new shares. The funds will be used in part to pay for the company’s new investment program that is expected to surpass 100 billion drachmas.

Nel Lines now sails a rocket-fast vessel that cuts sailing times to Chios and Mytilini from Piraeus by two-thirds. The new Aeolos Express shoots across the Aegean at speeds up to 66 kilometers per hour. It can carry 1,000 passengers and 210 vehicles. The Aeolos can reach Chios from Piraeus in a mere 2.5 hours instead of the traditional nine hours. It runs from Piraeus to Mytilini in 3.5 hours, compared with 10.5 hours taken by the conventional ferries that have run the route up until now.

The Mediterranean Travel Fair, MTF, held in Cairo, proved a success. Some 1,200 senior buyers were invited to attend and meet with a host of suppliers during the three day show held in ‘The Cairo International Conference Center’. The first two days were reserved for buyers and trade professionals, while the last day the show was open to the general public.

Crete-based ferry operator Minoan Lines announced a substantial increase in pre-tax profits for 1999. Minoan said last year’s revenue was up 7.1% against the year before and profits before taxes were up 65.5%.

The Research Institute for Tourism in cooperation with the Athens Hotel Association will hold an International Conference in Athens, August 24-26, 2000. The aim of the conference is to bring together scholars, practitioners and students of tourism, recreation, leisure and other related disciplines to identify areas of common research issues as well as methodological and analytical approaches.