People

If we want to track the prospects of Greek tourism toward its expected development in size, but also with regards to the dynamics of size, we must evaluate the elements within the national and international economic environment.

Tourism, as an activity that focuses on the human factor in all parameters that relate to social trends and attitudes, is currently against a complex situation that is a result of the international financial crisis.

Under the conception that Philoxenia is the Greek International Tourism Exhibition and POET holds the title of the federation that manages 100 percent of tourism income, we would like to express a warm welcome to all the visitors and exhibitors at Philoxenia 2008.

Exhibitions such as Philoxenia that have proved their value over the years are particularly important for the tourism industry professionals since they give the opportunity to both participants and visitors to gain information about the market’s latest developments and also to become acquainted with products and services of Greek and foreign tourism enterprises.

Philoxenia consists of a very important tool for professionals in tourism just as are all of the world’s tourism exhibitions and shows.

Another year has gone by quickly and we are again ready to celebrate the opening of Philoxenia 2008 and offer our best wishes for its success.

It is a great pleasure to greet the international business exhibition Philoxenia 2008 and welcome visitors to Thessaloniki, the capital of southeastern Europe and the Balkans.

For the past four years Philoxenia has been developing to even greater status levels and to a stronger role in the wider region of southeastern Europe.

Newly elected chairman of the board of directors of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Nikos Aggelopoulos (Aldemar Hotels & Spa), recently called for better coordination of tourism-related ministries and unification for the sake of sustainable tourism development in Greece at the association’s annual general assembly held recently.

Blue Star Maritime board of directors convened recently and accepted the resignation of Executive Board Member Michael Gialouris, who was then replaced by Nikolaos Tapiris. The board also assigned offices and responsibilities to its members with Charalambos Paschalis as chairman and non-executive member, Petros Vettas as vice-chairman and executive member, Michael Sakellis as managing director and executive member and Spiros Paschalis as authorized director and executive member.