Trade Associations

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies recently raised concerns over the continued strikes of employees at archeological sites in Athens. It fears the strikes create a negative image of Greece and will have severe repercussions if the strikes continue during the summer peak season.

Tourism Development Minister Fanni-Palli Petralia and the local tourism Industry agreed at the recent National Tourism Council meeting–the first for the newly approved council members–that this year we would see another rise in tourism traffic and revenue.

A recent meeting of the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agencies raised awareness over issues that concern illegal activity in the tourism sector and the problems that arise from the monopoly with tour guides.

Environmental concern was one of the key issues in the speech delivered by the Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis at the 15th general assembly of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises.

Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia expressed her optimism for the summer at a recent press conference where she explained how this May has been the most successful one in recent years. This substantiates her claims that Greece has now become a “preferred destination” for international travelers.

A general consensus for the prime minister’s continued support in overcoming hurdles that continue to harm business potential in the tourism sector was the essence of the speech given by Stavros Andreadis, president of the association of Greek tourism enterprises, during the associations’ recent 15th annual general assembly.

Government last month introduced a draft proposal for the introduction of land zoning regulations for the tourism sector. The plan, if accepted and passed, is expected to lead to the construction of leisure and retirement villages, which could attract major investment to the country’s tourism sector.

Representatives of the United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA) met in Rome recently with associations from Greece, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Italy, FYROM, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey to consider the future of a “Mediterranean cooperation.”

Travel agents that wish to belong to the Dutch Association of Travel Agents must adhere to a specific quality guarantee system, and the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourism Association intends to implement a similar system in Greece.

A significant step to revamp the 640,000-square-meter seaside area in western Piraeus to include tourism installations and a sea park was taken last month during a meeting with the country’s public works minister, Giorgos Souflias, the merchant marine inister, Manolis Kefaloyiannis, the local mayors and the owners of properties in the area (the National Bank of Greece, the Piraeus Port Authority, British Petroleum and AGET Heracles).