Markopoulos | Embassy of Greece in Poland Press & Communication Office

Greek Tourism Shows Resilence

Posted on June 18, 2009 by grpresspoland

• Minister Is Optimistic

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Figures on arrivals at Greek airports during the first five months of the year show an annual drop by 8.8%, much less than had originally been anticipated, Tourism Minister Kostas Markopoulos said during a press conference on June 16. Despite the dire economic climate globally, Markoupolos appeared optimistic that the drop in tourism for 2009 will not reach double digits and stressed that domestic tourism will also reach high levels. Kathimerini daily (17.6.2009): Tourism will not fall by over 10pct this year, gov’t says. Greek National Tourism Organisation: www.visitgreece.gr

• New Planes Take Off

Marfin Investment Group (MIG) which recently bought Olympic Airlines (OA) announced yesterday (June 17) that its subsidiary Olympic Air bought eight Q400 aircrafts from Bombardier for € 161,5 million with an option to acquire another 8. Meanwhile Aegean Airlines has announced that it is beginning daily flights to Istanbul from September 9, expanding its international routes. Kathimerini daily: MIG buys planes for Olympic Air

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Boosting Greek Tourism

Posted on February 26, 2009 by grpresspoland

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Fourteen specific measures aimed at boosting the tourism sector pledged by the Prime Minister will soon be implemented, new Tourism Development Minister Constantine Markopoulos said during a press conference on Tuesday. Commenting on projected tourism figures for the coming season, Markopoulos said no accurate predictions can be made regarding the number of tourist arrivals, considering that pre-bookings have been put off for two months to March and April as a result of the global economic crisis. Speaking to the press, the minister said the draft law will include the 14 measures, such as cutting municipal taxes and transforming the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels into a Tourism Chamber. Markopoulos said the ministry also plans to table another draft law in Parliament, by September, envisaging stricter supervision of casino operations and the upgrading of the Greek National Tourism Organisation‘s offices abroad, with the ministry planning to open new offices in South Africa, Poland, Ukraine and India.