Trade Associations

All parties associated with marine tourism have been invited to submit proposals and suggestions to the ministries of tourism and shipping for preparation of a draft law to be tabled in Parliament, the Tourism Ministry said yesterday, 2 October.

The top priority of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) is to ensure steady tourism growth for 2012-2013, according to the organization’s secretary general, Nikos Karahalios.

Greece and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, 1 October, agreed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector, according to a press release by the Greek Tourism Ministry.

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) will soon conduct a comprehensive study on the characteristics of Greek tourism and focus on necessary changes to the sector’s policy, according to the GNTO’s secretary general, Nikos Karahalios. Such a study has not taken place for the last 10 years.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization yesterday, 27 September, hosted a special concert of the Orchestra of Colors at the New Acropolis Museum.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni on Thursday, 27 September, announced the establishment of a Greek National Tourism Organization branch in the Sismanoglio Megaro in Istanbul. The minister’s announcement followed a meeting she had with her Turkish counterpart, Ertuğrul Günay, during her recent visit to Turkey.

17 million international arrivals, 11 billion euros of direct revenue and 40,000 new employment positions must be the aims of Greek tourism in 2013. If these goals are achieved, tourism will add 1.5 percent to the country’s GDP, raising the contribution of tourism to GDP above 16 percent and creating more favorable conditions for the recovery of the Greek economy.

Through Greek breakfast, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels aims to highlight the local culture, ingredients and recipes of each Greek region and give tourists the chance to take “a little bit of Greece home with them.” Considering that breakfast is widely regarded as one of the most important meals of the day, the chamber is certain foreign visitors will value Greek hoteliers that use local products and suppliers.

The Greek chapter of the International Federation for IT in Travel and Tourism (IFITT) is organizing a workshop on new technologies and their catalytic effect on tourism entitled “Innovative Technologies for the Tourism Industry – Technology as a tool for development and dealing with the economic crisis.”

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) recently launched its revamped website at www.visitgreece.gr.