Greek Tourism: A Mid Summer Night’s Dream

9 out of 10 Would Visit Greece Again

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Food and entertainment are the highlights of Greek tourism, while price levels seem to be the most disturbing feature according to a survey conducted by Ammon Ovis SA, on a sample of 332 tourists from all continents who have spent an average of 12 days in Greece.  Four out of ten respondents in the survey were visiting Greece for the first time, while six out of ten had planned their vacation through services provided on-line. 84% stayed at some hotel while 63% had at some point viewed an advertisement on Greece before coming to the country.   Americans, Australians and Germans appear to be the most satisfied with Greece as tourist destination, while Scandinavians and French appear to be the least pleased. Eight out of ten wish to visit Greece again and nine out of ten would recommend it as a tourist destination.  The tourists surveyed were asked to evaluate the services provided with ten being the highest grade. Food was graded 8.7, entertainment 8.3, while facilities scored 7.9, cleanness 7.7, public transport 7.6 and prices 7.  Commenting on the survey, Tourism Minister Kostas Markopoulos stressed the importance of the results related to tourists’ satisfaction. “The survey’s highlight is that tourists would be willing to visit Greece again and would recommend it to others”, he said.   Visit Greece: www.gnto.gr & Hellenic Tourism Organisation: Statistics & Studies

Luxury Tourism: A Masterpiece ‘Some’ Can Afford

According to a report drafted by Xenia SA, a leading private company, hosting international exhibitions and conferences on tourism, luxury tourism is considered globally the highest developing sector in the tourism industry, having the competitive advantage of being the least affected by the global financial turmoil.  In 2006, luxury tourism accounted for only 3% of global tourist arrivals (25 million) and 25% of the global tourist revenue ($180 billion). Most of the luxury tourism facilities can be found in the United States, in the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Ocean.  In the case of Greece, luxury tourism facilities are offered in tourist destinations such as Elounda on Crete island, Mykonos, Santorini, Athens and, lately on Rhodes island.  Xenia SA: Luxury Tourism: World Trends – The Prospects Of Greece  Hellenic Tourism Research Institute: www.itep.gr  Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises: www.sete.gr & Links on Hellenic Tourism Bodies and Agencies

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Greece on CNN’s iReport

(www.minpress.gr)  CNN’s iReport features Greece this week. iReporters submitted their favorite vacation photos from Greece and a selection of 25 of them is been presented.   Photos from Santorini, Myconos, the Parthenon etc along with the enthusiastic comments and memories of the people who posted them, constitute a slideshow of some of the most beautiful aspects of Greece.  iReport.com is a user-generated site, where users submit stories, videos, pictures etc. See the photos here

Geothermal Energy in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Ministry of Development supports large scale investments in green power to cover the energy needs of specific islands whose environment favours the implementation of renewables. A current scheme soon to be implemented capitalises on geothermal energy, using the heat in the earth’s interior. The islands included in the project are Milos, Nisyros, Lesbos, Chios, Samothraki and Santorini. Especially in the case of Milos and Nisyros, the steam or geothermal liquid springing from the surface can reach 350 degrees Celsius. Centre for Renewable Energy sources: Geothermal Energy; Ministry of Development: Renewable Sources of Energy (in Greek)

Vote for Greek Natural Wonders

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The Petrified Forest of Lesvos, the Meteora Rocks, Mount Olympus, and Santorini, Archipelago are candidates for the list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, to be compiled next summer in an online poll. The voting procedure of all candidates will be completed on July 7, 2009, when the 77 partaking sites will be chosen. Afterwards, 21 of them will be elected and the vote will be repeated. The final declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature will be in 2010. The New Seven Wonders of Nature: Vote for your nominee; Live Ranking: see the Top 77 of today; New7Wonders of Nature Nominees Europe

Greek Writers in Europe / Vassilis Alexakis (France)

Vassilis Alexakis was born in Santorini, in 1945 and moved to Paris in 1968.

Selected works: La Langue maternelle, Ap. J.-C., Je t’oublierai tous les jours.

FOR MORE LOOK AT: Vassilis Alexakis at Evene.fr , Alexakis at Wikipedia

Wines of the Times: Crisp, Refreshing and Greek

Eric Asimov, in this winetasting report on Greek wines (New York Times, 06.08.2008 ), notes that much has changed and improved during the last four years: “Greece offers a subtly different take on familiar Mediterranian-style wines, with unfamiliar, indigenous grapes grown nowhere else. From the windswept volcanic island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea comes the assyrtiko grape (pictured right), from the Peloponnesus comes the pink-skinned moschofilero grape, which produces highly floral wines that can often have a rosy tinge to them. And there are so many others, like the ancient athiri, the light, citrus-imbued roditis and the textured savatiano.” FOR MORE LOOK AT: http://events.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/dining/reviews/06wine.html?scp=3&sq=greece&st=cse

Greek Islands: Santorine

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Santorini island (Thera) was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions about 3,500 years ago. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic and its effects may have indirectly led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete. Due to its imposing landscape and amazing views, the stunning sunsets, its terrifying birth related to the myth of Atlantis, and its special indigenous architecture, Santorini is considered an unmatched tourist experience.  Info: www.santorini.gr ; Santorini Guide book 2008 

Greek Hotels in the Hot 2008 List (Conde Naste Traveler, May 2008)

Popular magazine Conde Naste Traveler has announced it’s 65 Top Hotels Hot List for 2008. Three of the 65 most “luxurious, innovative and stylish” hotels are in Greece: The Baby Grand Hotel in Athens, Greece (Rank 7). The Mykonos Grace in Mykonos, Greece (Rank 43). The Mystique in Santorini, Greece (Rank 44)

Greece: Secrets of the Past (IMAX® Trailer)