Hellas:from Tourism to World Heritage

“Kalimera”…It’s a Way of Life

“Kalimera”…the Greek word for ‘good morning’ is the new slogan for the advertising campaign of the Greek National Tourism Organization and Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The 2010 campaign was unveiled by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Angela Gerekou on March 8, and is based on a redesigned pattern of previous campaigns with the addition of the well-known greeting in the Greek language.
The campaign will be available through the renewed portal of Hellenic Tourism Organisation at the web address www.visitgreece.gr.
Kathimerini Daily: ‘Kalimera’ is the country’s new tourism motto    

A Popular Tourist Destination

Greece is the fourth most popular tourist destination in the European Union for 2010, according to a new Eurobarometer survey on “The attitudes of Europeans towards tourism.”
The EU Eurobarometer poll unveiled on March 8 shows that tourism is one of Europe’s most important service industries, accounting for 5% of Europe’s GDP and 6% of employment. Greece is the fourth most attractive tourist destination, after Spain, Italy, and France. 
European Commission: Tourism-Upbeat Prospects for 2010 Season  

“Med Diet” to Be Recognised by UNESCO 

The town of Koroni in Messinia Prefecture will represent Greece in an initiative put forth by four Mediterranean countries to have the “Mediterranean Diet” recognised by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity. 
Koroni from Greece, Cilento from Italy, Soria from Spain and Chefchaouen from Morocco will join forces to ask the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to include the diet to its World Heritage List.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

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Aegean Archipelago Portal

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Foundation of the Hellenic World (IME) has announced the launch of a “Cultural Portal of the Aegean Archipelago” at www.egeonet.gr, which presents the history, culture and natural environment of the islands of the Aegean, from the prehistoric times to date. The site contains information on both the history and culture of each island as well as historic and socio-cultural issues pertaining to the wider area such as shipping, piracy, Aegean archaeology, popular culture and demography.

Archaeological Findings Repatriated to Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The repatriation of 100 archaeological finds currently stored at Ghent University’s Archeological School in Belgium was decided following a meeting of Greece’s Minister of Culture with the Belgian ambassador and the director of the Belgian Archaeological School in Athens. The Belgian delegation informed Minister Antonis Samaras that the finds come from the School’s excavations at the archaeological site of Thoricos at Lavrio (see picture), southeast Attica. The School’s project of Thoricos was first launched in 1963, and four major areas have been investigated to date: the acropolis, the necropolis, the theatre and the industrial area. The acropolis has yielded the most important finds, while the theatre, probably the earliest in Greece, is of unique archaeological interest. The modern-day name of Thoricos, Lavrio, derives from the word “lavra” which means narrow passage and it is mostly known for its ancient and modern mining galleries. Mine extraction at Thorikos dates back to around 3000 B.C. Silver mining, once one of the chief source of revenue of the Athenian state, reached its peak during the years of Pericles. After a long pause, activities were resumed during the 19th century, contributing to the newly established Greek state’s technological progress for more than a century’s time. Nowadays, the area boasts the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park, where the rich local legacy comes to the fore. Ministry of Culture: www.culture.gr; Hellenic Culture Organisation: Odysseus portal 

Greek E-conomic Diplomacy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     In an effort to meet the challenges of the digital era, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  presented yesterday January 13, its two internet portals for both the business community and civil society. Addressing the event, the Minister stressed that promoting economic diplomacy and capitalizing on international funds constitutes a fundamental policy on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially at a time when the dire economic situation calls for intensification of the assistance provided to the Greek business community. Accommodating the needs of the Greek business community to access information concerning potential business opportunities with partners abroad, the Ministry inaugurated the “Agora” internet portal, (www.agora.mfa.gr) providing information such as business directories, information on public tenders and procurements, as well as information on business missions and fairs. Moreover, 500 market researches and studies can be accessed through the website in addition to a full business guide to foreign bureaucracy and investment incentives law. Together with the enhancement of economic diplomacy, the Ministry set clear-cut goals to promote international development cooperation. The launch of the international funding portal (www.aidfunding.mfa.gr) aims at increasing NGO’s and Greek businesses’ share in funding by international financial institutions such as the World Bank, Europeaid and the UN network. Browsing through the interactive pages of the portal, one can gain access to integrated support services such as a database for tenders, on-line applications, information on training seminars and practical guides to transacting with international institutions. 

City of Athens is Now Online in English

The City of Athens is now online in English. It provides information on a multitude of topics, including children, women, senior citizens, volunteerism, environment, and offers a glimpse at activities in the city via an interactive events calendar, and much more.