People

This year has been one of the most difficult periods for global tourism and, of course, for our country. These difficulties brought our tourism weaknesses to the surface, not the least of which is the offer of cut-rate prices in exchange for last-minute bookings. This also showed that we must introduce the ‘satellite accounts’ method for tourism statistics. This would give us the opportunity to accurately imprint the overall contribution of tourism to the national economy and to compare the annual arrival and monetary variations from every geographical region. It would also assist in convincing government quarters to initiate proper tourism planning.

I believe this year’s “Philoxenia” will grow to be an important event for Greek tourism, in spite of the particularly unfavorable international circumstances that cause reasonable concern in the country’s tourism sector.

It is evident to all that this year’s Philoxenia comes at a very crucial moment for Greek tourism. Our confederation believes that now is the time for all those who are involved in the tourism sector to bind together and with a single voice show the world that Greece is a very competitive destination, and one that offers visitors the best of everything as well as one of the world’s safest holiday destinations.

Philoxenia opens its gates to the tourism public every year continuing a long-established communications tradition that began in the footsteps of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.

Philoxenia represents an opportune moment to relay a special message to travelers: Air travel was, is and remains the safest way to travel. And now is the time to take advantage of incredible and fantastic offers by airlines, hotels and tour operators.

This year’s Philoxenia is being called upon to act as the institution through which Greek tourism will show its strength and endurance in confronting unfortunate circumstances, such as the ones we have been living through these past days.

Demetris Georgarakis, an electronic engineer with some 20 years experience in the airline sector (Olympic Airways) has been appointed to head the newly created tourism general secretariat, which is directly under the development ministry.

Evangelos Venizelos is the country’s new culture minister. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis replaced Culture Minster Theodoros Pangalos on November 19, the same day as a front-page interview by the latter expressed disagreement with certain government policies, including labor market reforms.

Our confederation and I personally congratulate Greek Travel Pages for its remarkable guide, which for 25 consecutive years has offered significant services to our tourism sector.

Through GTP, with the valuable data and information it contributes to help us in our work, I wish to salute the 16th Philoxenia. I would also like to stress to every responsible party that there is no greater disappointment for the pioneers of Greek tourism – the travel agents – than the efforts of administration to block travel offices from modernization, incentives and any other support available from the EU’s third framework support package.