Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avrampoulos said on Tuesday that the post-Olympic period would be used to promote tourism over a period of ten years, noting that a new era would be inaugurated.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting on tourism, presided over by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Avramopoulos said the government's policy on tourism would not be restricted to certain parts of the country but would spread across Greece.
He said a new optimistic era would be inaugurated, focusing on many aspects of tourist activity that have not yet been developed in the country, such as cultural, social, rural, urban and sport tourism.

Avramopoulos pointed out that Barcelona had used dynamic communications in the post-Olympic period to send a message to the whole world, adding that Greece would focus on putting everything in order by smoothing out uncontrolled and splintered tourism.

Tourism minister unveils new strategy for Greek tourism

Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Tuesday presented a new draft legislation aimed to offer a new strategy for the tourism sector in the country.
 Avramopoulos presented the draft legislation during a cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

 "The main axis of our strategy is development, upgrading the quality of services and infrastructure in combination with prices," the Greek minister told reporters after the meeting. "A new era begins based on culture, environment and development," he added.

 Avramopoulos said that tourist arrivals were lower although revenues were 4-5 percent higher so far this year and noted that a Tourist Real Estate company was renamed into Tourist Development Enterprise operating under the auspices of Tourism ministry.

Athens Business Club 2004: Greece to spend over 30 mln euros on tourism publicity

The state is to invest over 30 million euros on tourism publicity for Greece, 10 times more than any past government, the head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Haris Kokkosis, said on Tuesday.

Beyond the main campaign, which is to use the Athens 2004 Olympics as an advertisement, other moves will target specific sectors such as conference tourism, Kokkosis told the Athens Business Club 2004, set up to spur international contacts during the Olympics.
"We aim to expand the alternative, quality, sustainable tourism product on a level that would be considered part of our national identity. Our objective is to move ahead in an efficient, strategic manner, working with all the trade bodies involved," Kokkosis said.

In addition, the GNTO will also seek to publicize Greece as a tourism investment venue, he added.

Source: Athens News Agency

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