Niche Markets

A group of citizens on Greek island Rhodes have launched an initiative to add one more LGBT destination on Greece’s tourism map away from clichés, stereotypes and prejudices.

Hotels located in over 10 Greek destinations will be presented and promoted this year in the Gay & Lesbian segment at the 33rd Fitur International Tourism Trade Fair to be held this week in Madrid, Spain (30 January- 3 February 2013).

The Greek Tourism Ministry plans to simplify procedures for the certification of Greek thermal springs in accordance to the relevant EU directive, it was announced today, Tuesday, 4 December.

The development and promotion of an integrated network of medical services for foreign visitors at a local level through the launch of pilot programs in Lasithi, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens, Thessaloniki and Thessaly was suggested yesterday, 19 November, by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels during the presentation of the study “Development of Medical Tourism in Greece.”

A bill that will put an end to legal uncertainties and cover any gaps that hinder the development of medical tourism in Greece should be completed by the end of this year, according to an announcement made during the presentation of a study by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, yesterday, Thursday, 17 October, in Athens.

“Talk of the Eurozone crisis has not deterred LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) travelers who have pushed Greece up the rankings to appear in the top ten most desired gay destinations globally,” according to Out Now Business Class (www.OutNowBusinessClass.com), the world’s leading LGBT business networking membership association.

“As always, HATTA will assist in the effort to improve the (country’s) tourism product and for the qualitative improvement of tourism services, especially in the sensitive field of culture,” the president of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), Yiorgos Telonis said last month.

Thessaloniki will show its sports tourism potential next summer, as it will host the 12th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship, scheduled for 12-21 July 2013. The event will be held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis recently presented the conclusions of a report on the development and promotion of religious and pilgrimage tourism in Greece.

“The international and Greek student community is a huge ‘reservoir’ from which Greek regions could draw visitors from throughout the academic year,” Yiorgos Telonis, president of Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), said during the announcement of the new institutional and developmental framework of school trips.