Niche Markets

For many years Greece has promoted the classical form of tourism, the so-called “sun and sea,” but alternative forms of tourist interest should be considered as well for areas that visitors may prefer besides the islands, said the secretary general of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Dimitris Stamatis, during a promotional event for the area.

The non-profit enterprise Agroxenia recently presented its new electronic gateway for agritourism travel routes.

The amount of EU funds for the improvement of Greek tourist services for the 2007-2013 period amounts to 118 million euros, which includes the finance of Greek alternative tourism forms, said the European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Gunter Verheugen, recently.

Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos said recently that the new agritourism company “Agrotima SA” is the corporate section of the promotion and implementation of the tourism ministry’s policies on issues of specific forms of rural tourism and mild recreational activities.

Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recently visited Larissa and refered to the significant growth prospects of the prefecture.

The development of the natural environment of Greek islands and small areas through the growth of ecotourism and other alternative forms of tourism is the main theme of the ‘Alternative tourism and environment management in small and/or island areas’ conference to be held on Milos, 2-4 October.

The Municipality of Avdiron (south of Xanthi) organized its first fish tourism conference and implemented the first pilot program of fish tourism in Greece within the framework of the “Fish Tourism” plan.

Greece shows excellent prospects as a destination for conferences, corporate meetings and incentives: This conclusion was based on the results of the recent and first meeting of representatives from the Thessaloniki Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers, the Athens-Attica Hotel Association and the Athens Convention Bureau.

Greece and Italy formed an alliance for rural tourism development through the European Union initiative “Leader+.” The Leader+ program is one of four initiatives financed by European Union structural funds and is designed to help rural administartions consider the long-term potential of their local region.

Ovadias Tours, in October, communicated its ideology behind a campaign for the promotion of Greece in Asia. The tour operator sent a letter to Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos suggesting a new dimension in Greece’s promotional campaign, which, according to the tour operator, was well received.