June 2003

2003: Winning tourists’ confidence
After many difficulties, the tourist season is in full swing although it is still too early to tell whether 2003 will mark the start of the travel industry's rebound, at least for Greece, or whether the pressures felt since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States are still strong.
For Greece, 2003 is an especially difficult year. Statistically, the year before a city, and by extension a country, hosts the Olympic Games, tourism dips, because the hype has yet to kick in. Tourists are also aware of the fact that preparations for hosting the Games are in underway, which means that many prime sights may be closed or not fully operational. This is true of many of Greece's star tourist attractions, such as the National Archaeological Museum and even parts of ancient Olympia.
Yet in 2003, Greece will have to pass a very difficult test: winning tourists' confidence. News reports of flight delays, shoddy service, inflated prices will have a greater effect on prospective visitors than any other year. Hosting the Olympic Games is an opportunity for promoting Athens and the rest of Greece that no sum of money could buy. The Games themselves will advertise the country. But in order to come, tourists will need to be assured of the services and amenities they will find. This is where reports about the experiences from this year, from word-of-mouth to the mass media, are particularly important.
It's thus disheartening to see this difficult and crucial season begin on a sour note. Strikes by staff at archaeological sites in the early spring have already struck a negative chord among thousands of visitors who took advantage of the Easter break to visit Greece. Now the prospect of labor action by air traffic controllers as well as ground crews to protest the transformation of the state-carrier Olympic Airways into the trimmer "New" Olympic Airways threatens to scuttle any chance at salvaging a year in which the tourism industry has already had to contend with the effects of the Iraq war and the SARS outbreak.
Trade associations such as SETE have already issued pleas to unions and government to do their best to avert any strikes or stoppages that would cause cancellations or serious flight delays, thus triggering negative stories in the international media. SETE quite correctly points out that averting labor action is not enough and that there mere threat of a strike or the potential of stoppages could be equally damaging as it could sow doubts in travellers' minds about Greece as a destination.
Government, unions, and, representatives of the tourism industry - hoteliers, travel agents, tour bus operators, airlines, and so on - should work together to forge a common strategy that will enhance Greece's image as a tourist destination, taking advantage of the matchless publicity generated as a result of the Games. This type of cooperation towards a common goal will also help each side gain a better understanding of the others' problems and could act help head off problems before they appear.
Hellenic Travelling

Ananiadis new Lampsas, Starwood GM
Tim Ananiadis, a Greek-born executive who has worked for Hyatt Hotels in Greece and abroad, has been named the new general manager of the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens.
The hotel is owned and managed jointly by the Greek hotels company Lampsas S.Α. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
"It's wonderful to return to your country to undertake such an important project as the management of Greece's hotel with the most history, especially in a milestone-period when [Athens] is hosting the Olympics," he said. "It's a great honour and a challenge."
Ananiadis's 25-year career in the hotel sector has included posts in Canada, the U.S., and Caribbean. In Greece, he was previously the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki.
Ananiadis is replacing John Laggos.

ΗΑΤΤΑ petitions government overstrikes at archaeological sites
The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (ΗΑΤΤΑ) has issued an appeal to the Finance Ministry to seek an end to weekend strikes by guards at archaeological sites which has a far-reaching effect on the tourism industry.
The association said that it had helped mediate between the Culture Ministry and striking employees, who had been assured that action would be taken to satisfy their demands but that such action had yet to be implemented.

Star Clippers return to Greece
The Star Clippers are returning to Greece with new packages of seven-day holiday cruises in the eastern Mediterranean.
The cruises on board the Star Flyer will depart from Piraeus. The first route follows the Kusadasi-Patmos-Delos-Myconos/Sifnos circuit while the second route follows the Rhodes-Bodrun-Santorini-Hydra circuit.
Nereus Cruise Holidays is the exclusive representative of Star Clippers in Greece. Star Clippers also offer cruises along the French Riviera, the Italian coast, Sicily, and Malta.

Athens hoteliers' board meets
The Attica Hoteliers' Association (ΕΧΑ) has elected two special members to serve on its board as part of its aim to radically revitalize the association's administration.
The new members are Christos Ioannou, a member of the board of directors of the Athenaeum Intercontinental, and Alexandros Vassilikos, managing director of Airotel.
Andreas Kottas was also unanimously elected as honorary president of the board in recognition of his longstanding service to the hotel industry.
ΕΧΑ's board has been engaged in the process for awarding the advertising tender for a promotional campaign for greater Athens. It has also been developing strategies for representing and resolving problems faced by hotels in Attica.

Club Med announces special summer package
Club Med at Gregolimano on the island of Evia has introduced two special packages for couples and families who want to take short breaks or their full holidays.
The couple's package costs 149 euros per person and included two nights, full board at a buffet with wine or beer, organized entertainment program, and participation in all sports offered at the resort (water ski, windsurfing, sailing, archery, tennis, fitness, etc.)
For families, Club Med has waived room charges for children aged 4 to 12 years staying in their parents' room. The package includes a Mini Club for kids, entertainment, and activities.
Located on the northwestern coast of Evia, the Gregolimano resort has 419 rooms, bungalows, and maisonettes.

Elounda Aqua Sol Resort reopens
The Elounda Aqua Sol Resort has reopened following extensive renovations. The four-star hotel is a member of the Aqua Sol group, which has properties on Cyprus, Rhodes, and Crete.
Located on one of the prettiest stretches of Cretan coastline, the Elounda resort features completely refurbished rooms, new lounges and public spaces, and entertainment areas.

ΕΟΤ, Athens 2004 together at Geneva travel expo
The 2004 Olympic Games were the centerpiece of the Greek presentation and pavilion at the international convention travel expo ΕΙΒΤΜ held recently in May.
Greece was represented by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) and Athens 2004, the organizing committee for the Olympic Games, as well as other private exhibitors and enterprises. The joint presentation used the Olympics as a springboard for promoting Greece as a conference and convention destination.

Serres hosts development conference
Proposals aimed at economically developing the northern Greek province of Serres were examined at a series of workshops and conferences organized through early June by the Serres prefecture.
During the sessions, special emphasis was placed on tourism as a lever for development.
The conference was the second such annual event hosted by Serres.

Foreign operators seek deep discounts
Foreign tour operators are pushing Greek hotels and companies in the hospitality sector for discounts of up to 10 percent, a prominent tourism official said.
Speaking on the "Business & Travel" aired on the Greek Business Channel, Vassilis Minaidis, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers said packages were pushing room rates as low as 12 euros per night as hoteliers were being pressured by low arrival figures.
He claimed that arrivals through mid-May were down roughly 17 percent over the same period of the previous year. He also projected an overall 5 percent decline in tourist arrivals over 2002 for the year.
Minaidis said Greek hoteliers were hoping for a 10 percent price increase in 2004 when Athens is the host of the Olympic Games, but that tour operators were pushing for lower rates.

ΕΤΑ rejects press claims on Mont Parnes casino
Hellenic Tourism Properties (ΕΤΑ), the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization, has issued a statement denying press reports claiming that the Mont Parnes casino will be transferred to the Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni.
The statement also rejected press claims that the property is being sold at humiliatingly low prices.

Meeting on Olympic housing process
Senior representatives of the Athens 2004 organizing committee recently met with representatives from Eurobank Properties and Alpha Astika Akinita to clarify issues regarding housing programs for the Olympic Games.

Aegean celebrates 4th anniversary
Aegean Airlines marked the fourth anniversary of its launch on May 28. Since its launch, the airline has completed 110,000 flights and carried 9,000,000 passengers.
The private carrier initially had routes to four Greek cities but now serves more than 18 destinations in Greece and abroad, plus runs charter services to 40 domestic and foreign airports.
Aegean Airlines employs 1,300 people.

ΕΟΤ to launch contest for 2004 logo
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) will launch a nation-wide competition for a new logo to be inaugurated for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Information about the competition may be obtained from the ΕΟΤ office at 7 Tsoha in Ampelokipi, Athens. Details of the competition were also due to be announced to the media in mid-June.

Lesvos hoteliers petition on social insurance
The Union of Lesvos Hoteliers has submitted a memorandum to the government, parliament, and other trade associations on reducing unemployment and improving competitiveness in the tourism sector.
The memorandum outlines union members' positions on key issues such as social security contributions, especially as to how they affect small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ionian isles rack up 'Blue Flags'
Forty-two beaches on the Ionian islands of Corfu, Lefkada, Kefallonia, Ithaki, and Zakynthos has been awarded "Blue Flags" under the European Union's program for monitoring water quality and beach cleanliness. The awards are presented for organized beaches.
The Ionian islands are famous for their pretty beaches with shimmering, turquoise waters. Three beaches on Ionian islands - Myrtos, Porto Katsiki, and Kathisma - have been ranked by visitors among the top 10 beaches of the Mediterranean.

Postal service spreads its wings
The Hellenic Postal Service (ELTA) is forging business alliances and partnerships with retail chains to expand its network of post offices.
Speaking on the Greek Business Channel's "Business & Travel" show, ELTA managing director Manolis Drainakis said that the postal service would seek to expand its network of postal drops from 900 to over 2,000 through agreements with retail chains. One such deal has already been signed with Shell.
Drainakis said ELTA was also considering expanding into telephony products. He added that the Postal Savings Bank would also offer new services, such as credit cards, loans, and mutual funds.

Santorini tops honeymooners' wish list
Santorini was the top destination for getting married among newlywed or soon-to-be-married couples in the United States and Great Britain, according to a recent survey conducted in those countries.

Island vibes downtown
Frame is the name of the new rooftop bar launched by the St George Lycabettus in the Kolonaki district of Athens.
The summer bar features a "new Bohemian" decor by interior designer Angelos Angelopoulos, who has cleverly combined Seventies' pillows and vintage elements to create a unique look. The music - smooth grooves and conga beats - creates an island vibe in this downtown haunt.

Emirates to introduce New Zealand route
Emirates Airlines will introduce flights to Auckland, New Zealand, as from August 1. The airline will operate 14 flights weekly between Dubai and Auckland on their Dubai-Sydney and Dubai-Melbourne routes.
Four Emirates flights from Athens to Dubai will connect to the New Zealand route.

ΕΟΤ presents Xenios Zeus awards
Film director John Madden, actress Nia Vardalos, and newscaster Nikos Aliagas were the headliners at the annual Xenios Zeus awards presented by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ).
Madden was awarded for his film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," set on the island of Kefallonia. Vardalos was presented with the award for her hit comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which also inspired an ΕΟΤ promotion with the Conde Nast group.
ΕΟΤ also presented awards to composer Pericles Koukos, set designer Nikos Petropoulos, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, painter Mina Papatheodorou-Valiraki, singer Viki Leandros, and writers Michail Casparov and Patrick Leigh Fermor.
The awards were presented by Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

ΕΟΤ sees positive trend ΙΝ airport arrivals
Tourist arrivals were up by a slight 1.55 percent in the first five months of the year compared to 2002, the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) said in a statement.
It said that despite the Iraq war, charter arrivals at Greece's 12 international airports rose from 297,058 in the January-May period of 2002 to 301,657 in the same period of 2003. The largest increase has been registered in Thessaloniki and Kos, while drops in charter arrivals at the airports of Hania and Athens had been noted.
Data for April, which included the Easter break, shows a 16.98 percent increase in tourist arrivals on charter flights. The largest increases over 2002 were recorded in Thessaloniki, Kos, and Rhodes, while arrivals at Athens and Hania dropped in April 2003 compared for the same month of 2002.

Travel agents squeezed by ΒΥ airline decisions on commissions
Carriers' decisions to reduce or eliminate commissions for travel agents are squeezing this sector of the travel industry, the head of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (ΗΑΤΤΑ) said in an interview.
Speaking on the Greek Business Channel, ΗΑΤΤΑ president Nikos Papalexis said that the viability of an estimated 1,000 Greek travel agencies was being threatened by cost-cutting measures taken by airlines. KLM has said it will reduce agent commissions from 9 to 5 percent. Austrian Airlines has eliminated agent commissions, offering travel agents a simple, quota-based bonus after 60 days.

Komotini center of GREEK gastronomy
The northern Greek city of Komotini has been selected as the headquarters of the soon-to-be established Balkan Gastronomy Center.
The decision was announced at the conclusion of a meeting of Balkan tourism ministers.
The plan includes creating a "village of flavors" to promote traditional cuisine of all Ballkan countries.

Lesvos hoteliers issue memo on environment
The Union of Lesvos Hoteliers has appealed to local and government authorities to establish and enforce clear laws on zoning and environmental standards.
The appeal was included in a memorandum submitted to the third annual conference on environmental governance held recently in Volos.
In their statement, the Lesvos hoteliers said double standards should not be tolerated and regulations enforced evenly.

Athens Airport revamps web site
Travellers will be able to obtain real-time information on flight arrivals and departures from the Athens International Airport through its redesigned website.
Other information available on line includes up-to-date weather forecasts for 17 Greek destinations and 15 foreign destinations, frequently asked questions, and data on airport traffic. The web address is: www.aia.gr

Rally Acropolis marks 50th anniversary
Markko Martin-Michael Park was the winner of the 2003 Rally Acropolis, which marked the fiftieth anniversary of this world-class road race.
Established in 1953, the race covers 1,443 kilometers and includes 22 special routes, attracting drivers and spectators from around the globe.

Germania, LuxAir touch down in Greece
The German charter carrier Germania is set to begin operating flights to and from Athens at the end of June, the Greek Business Channel reported. It said that German Wings, a low-cost subsidiary of the German carrier Lufthansa would also begin operating flights to and from Athens in June.
Germania will introduce direct flights between Athens and Cologne/Bonn four times a week, with fares starting from 19 euros. The no-frills airline's network includes over 20 destinations in Europe; in Greece, Germania will also fly to Thessaloniki.
Other new airlines touching down at Athens International Airport include
LuxAir, which has been operating flights to Greece since March. The airline's manager, Patrick Lamesch, said in an interview with the Greek Business Channel's "Business and Travel" show that Athens airport could easily evolved into a hub for air traffic in the eastern Mediterranean.
LuxAir operates some direct flights to other Greek airports such as Rhodes and Corfu, but its core domestic traffic is carried on Aegean Airlines, with which it has a business alliance in the Greek domestic market.

Ionian islands adopt action plan
The Ionian Islands Tourism Society (ΕΤΙΝ) has adopted a multi-pronged plan aimed at promoting travel to the Ionian islands.
The plan, which was adopted at a meeting of society members at the group's headquarters on Lefkada, includes screenings of promotional videos on Olympic Airways flights and distribution of a pamphlet detailing airline connections and timetables to and from the Ionian islands. ΕΤΙΝ will also prepare and publish new promotional materials.
The society approved ΕΤΙΝ proposals to be submitted to the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) for participating in programs highlighting theme tourism, such as sports activities in the Ionian islands, winter getaways, and Ionian cities. ΕΤΙΝ has also submitted a plan for developing a regional logo for enterprises in the tourism sector.
The campaign is already paying off. The state-run ΕΤ3 has already aired promotional spots highlighting the Ionian, while similar spots were aired on private Antenna radio and public ERA Sports radio. Representatives of Ionian islands have also been booked to do interviews on private radio stations Flash, Planet, Profit, and Alpha.

Voula beach awarded "Blue Flag"
Voula Beach Α has been awarded the European Union's "Blue Flag" for water and beach cleanliness and quality.
The beach is managed by Apollonies Aktes, a consortium of Vernicos Yachts, EFG Eurobank Properties, V+Ο Communications, and Ef Zin Productions. The company also managed Voula Beach Β.
Voula Beach Α has undergone landscaping improvements and refurbishments since 2002 aimed at upgrading services and facilities.

Aid for small tourism units expedited
More than 500 applications from small accommodations units are expected to receive government aid for upgrading their facilities under the Development Ministry's ΕΡΑΝ program.
The applications, which have been submitted to the second round of evaluations completed between May and November 2002 have been reviewed by the Central Evaluation Committee (ΚΕΑ). Just over 1,000 applications had been submitted in the second round.
Meantime, the Greek Business Channel reported that the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) has been accepting new applications for licenses to build hotel units, as well additional applications for hotel upgrades.
The report also provided an update on renovations underway. It said that the eagerly anticipated reopening of the King George Hotel on Syntagma Square would likely take place in the fall. Work is also progressing on extensions to the Electra, Ledra Marriott, and Hilton in Athens, the Grand Resort Lagonissi, the Theoxenia in Piraeus, and the Theoxenia in Kifissia.

Hellas Flying Dolphins media redress
Hellas Flying Dolphins has issued a statement requesting media to rectify indirect defamatory acts against the company as a result of media coverage of a May 29 accident on the Jet 1 craft.
The statement, issued by the company's legal counsel Nagia Theodoropoulou, said that file footage used in television and internet news reports of the accident, as well as pictures in the print media, showed Hellas Flying Dolphins craft instead of the Jet 1, which is not owned by the company.

Ports' future examined at conference
The future of Greek ports in a deregulated market was the focus of a one-day conference organized in Piraeus in early June by the financial daily Express and its publisher, the Kalofolias Group.
Speakers discussed the European Union directive on port deregulation which affects more than 150 Greek ports and hundreds of port workers. Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Anomeritis delivered the opening address at the conference, which heard from representatives of shipping companies, shipowners' associations, and trade unions.

ΕΟΤ develops promotion strategy
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) is developing a comprehensive promotion and marketing strategy aimed at highlight Greece as a travel destination.
As part of the program, ΕΟΤ will be considering 31 applications for funding for promotional programs for urban destinations and 30 applications for promotional programs for religious tourism.
The applications will be reviewed by a special committee.

Emirates Airlines offers free stay in Dubai
Travellers in first and business class bound for Dubai on Emirates Airlines will receive two nights free stay at in a junior suite at the five-star Jumeira Beach Club.
The offer is valid through August 15.
Emirates Airlines operates four flights between Athens and Dubai via Larnaca (Cyprus) weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Austrian paper highlights Karpathos
"Sacred seclusion with Greek wine" was the title of a travel feature on the island of Karpathos published in June in the Austrian newspaper Reisen Kurier.
The feature, which focused on the island's beauty and cuisine, was accompanied by a separate article highlighting 23 Greek island destinations.

British Airways introduces trans-Atlantic specials
British Airways introduced special discount fares for June for flights between selected destinations in North and South America.
Special fares were available to New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kingston (Jamaica), and Mexico.
Details are posted online at www.ba.com

Royal Olympic Cruises may reintroduce Mediterranean route
Royal Olympic Cruises may resume its seven-day cruises of the eastern Mediterranean, the company said in a statement.
It said that in light of "serious efforts being made to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," it was examining the possibility of reintroducing its cruises to the Greek islands, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Turkey.
The company suspended the route in 2000 due to political instability in the region. It had been running the route for roughly two decades.

Wine conference on Santorini
European wine experts gathered on Santorini in June for the international wine conference organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) with the cooperation of the Agricultural University and the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.
Opening the conference, ΕΟΤ president Yiannis Patellis said that gastronomy was an important vehicle for promoting tourism to Greece. He also emphasized wine-making as a link between ancient and modern Greek culture.

SETE sounds alarm over airport strikes
Businessmen in the tourism sector have voiced concern at the effects of planned labor action at Greek airports on the 2003 season which has just got underway.
The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) has appealed to the government to act to avert strikes that could have a disastrous impact on the tourist season.
"Any announced labor action, regardless of whether it is implemented or not, creates great disruptions and worsens the market's already negative mood while defaming Greece," SETE noted in a statement. It also said that it had sent separate letters to the ministers of finance and development, as well as to the head of the Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) on this issue.
SETE emphasized that the 2003 season had opened with a rough start as a result of the SARS scare and the cumulative affects of the Iraq war and reduced air travel since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the United States. Given this difficult circumstances, the prospect of flight delays and cancellations because of strikes by air traffic controllers or ground staff at airports could have an "exceptionally negative" impact on the Greek tourism industry. Any disruptions to the market could threaten the viability of businesses in the tourism sector as well as businesses outside the sector because of the impact on the broader economy, SETE said.
It emphasized that resolving labor disputes that affect air traffic control should be a priority for the government, which should take initiatives to ensure against disruptions in the market at least during the peak summer season.

Convention bureau one step closer
Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) chief Yiannis Patellis and the president of the association of Greek conference and convention organizers, Anastasios Koumanis, met recently to discuss the charter of a soon-to-be-established Athens Convention Bureau.
The bureau will function as a non-profit association in which conference organizers, hoteliers, and travel agencies will participate.

ΕΟΤ inaugurates new headquarters
Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos inaugurated the Greek National Tourism Organization's new offices at 7 Tsoha Street in the Ampelokipi district of Athens.
Foreign diplomats and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony, which was also addressed by ΕΟΤ president Yiannis Patellis.

Emirates Airlines offers online bonuses
Passengers who book their tickets on Emirates Airlines through the airline's online reservation system will be earn double value Skywards Miles for bookings made through December 31.
Travellers who use the online booking system between June 15 and August 15 will also earn a 10 percent discount on Dubai Shopping Festival packages.
The airline's website is visited by over 125,000 internet users and processes an average 38,000 online reservations daily.

Porto Carras awarded "Blue Flag"
The Porto Carras Grand Resort in northern Greece has been awarded a Blue Flag under the European Union's program for monitoring water quality and beach cleanliness.
The flags are awarded to organized beaches that meet 27 stringent criteria.
Porto Carras Grand Resort said in a statement that the hotel continued to make every effort to improve environmental standards. It recently added a treatment plant for tertiary waste with a capacity of 3,500 cubic meters of waste per day. The resort also implements a "Green Drachma" recycling program in cooperation with the Halkidiki Development Enterprise. Desalination units produce 1,800 cubic meters of drinking water a day, while the resort has also invested more than 500,000 euros in landscaping and maintaining a 50-acre vineyard.

Techniki Olympiaki refutes press reports on Porto Carras
Techniki Olympiaki, which owns the Porto Carras Grand Resort in the Halkidiki peninsula, has issued a statement rejecting negative press reports about the cost of renovations and adjustments necessary to host the European Council in June.
The council, a summit of European Union leaders, is held at the end of the rotating, six-month EU presidency.
Techniki Olympiaki said that it had made a sizeable investment in renovations and only a small portion of these were necessary for the summit and would thus burden the Greek taxpayer - as they would if held at any other facility.
Α separate company statement said that work on the upgrades was proceeding at a fast pace, including upgrades to the grounds such as improved lighting and laying of foot and bicycle paths.

Singapore off SARS list
The Singapore Tourism Authority has welcomed the World Health Organization (WHO) decision to remove Singapore from a list of countries on the SARS risk list.
It said that Singapore's removal from the list was a milestone that will give the country's tourism industry a chance to bounce back from the effect of the travel restrictions imposed as a result of the SARS outbreak.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines has introduced the "SIA Fabulous" program to win back travellers' confidence. The program offers up to 50 percent fare discount for 15,000 seats on a first-come first-serve basis, free room nights at affiliated hotels, plus bonuses like tours and airport transfers. The promotion will run through August 31.

Panagopoulos president of High Level Ferry Group
Alexandros Panagopoulos, president and managing director of Superfast Ferries, has been elected president of the High Level Ferry Group, an arm of the European Community Shipowners' Association.
"The group's purpose is to have an active role in shaping issues that concern passenger shipping in the European Union," Panagopoulos said. He added that maintaining rigorous safety standards was vital to the sector.

Cross-country race across northern Greece
Adventure lovers had an opportunity to enjoy a unique experience when the Eastern Macedonian prefecture hosted the first annual 4x4 drive across the mountains of Kavala, Drama, and Xanthi in mid-June.
The three-day event included camp-overs in some of the prettiest mountain landscapes of northern Greece.

Greek cuisine and golf at Czech expo
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) has paired with Eurogolf Promo to highlight Greek cooking at the VIP Trophy Golf Tour 2003 in the Czech Republic.
The special promotion was launched at the Karlstein Golf Club in early June and will continue at other venues through September.

ΕΟΤ funds regional promotional programs
The Greek National Tourism Organization (ΕΟΤ) will provide up to three million euros this year in financial assistance to help Greek prefectures implement tourism promotion campaigns.
The monies are available for publications, events, and other promotional materials.
ΕΟΤ will present awards to the best regional promotional publications during the Philoxenia tourism expo in Thessaloniki in October.

Greece gets on women's tourism federation
Irini Antonopoulou-Koutsoukelli has been elected alternate Atlantic Governor of the board of the International Federation of Women's Tourist Organizations (IFWTO) during the group's recent meeting in Acapulco.
She will be responsible for the association's clubs in Europe and Africa. Koutsoukelli represented the Association of Greek Women in Tourism at the Acapulco meeting.
IFWTO's goal is to increase its profile in Europe by organizing clubs in countries such as Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, and Cyprus.

From My Notebook By Connie Soloyanis
*Cutbacks and more cutbacks in commercial air service continue, due to less passengers. But there is good news for some travellers within the U.S.Α. You can now take pet cats and monkeys as well as dogs on flights within the U.S. with you. But nix on snakes, rats and spiders.
*Through its PetSafe program Continental Airlines has won permission under the United Kingdom’s Pet Travel Scheme to eliminate the six-month quarantine for cats and dogs accommodated on its flights from the U.S. to the U.Κ.
*Virgin Atlantic, which has been flying cats and dogs (with proper health certification) into the U.Κ. from the U.S. for over two years, has plans for a frequent flier program for cats and dogs.
*If all goes well Greece should be introducing a new tourist experience (for Greece), that of offering submarine tours at various sites within a year or two, according to present plans.
*Lufthansa hosted its 100,000th guest at the airline’s lounge at Athens International Airport since its opening on February of 2001.
*ΙΑΤΑ reports a 20 percent decrease in air passenger traffic for the month of April.
*Some 275 million leisure trips by Americans are to be undertaken within the U.S.Α. this year, according to the Travel Industry Association of America.
*Self-service check-ins at U.S. airports are increasing dramatically, reducing average check-in time from 30 minutes to a mere two.
*Security checks, however, are taking longer, due to more stringent checks and recent discharges of screeners.
*Airports in Asia, especially in Hong Kong, have huge budgets to try to lure tourists back. Gimmicks include drastically reduced landing fees, airport taxes and giveaways, such as new cars.
*Indications from an informal survey are that Greeks, as many as 70 percent of the population, will holiday within Greece this year, primarily, in their ‘second’ homes, and many others with family and friends. Main reason is economic.
*On the practical side, it is estimated that as many as five million jobs in the travel and tourist field worldwide may have been lost thus far this year due to the worldwide slump in tourism.
*In case you have been wondering - while perambulating about Athens and suburbs - the stray dog population in the general area is estimated at 300,000.
*In travel trends so-called ╘package holidays╒ are losing their appeal with the general public.
*Athens El. Venizelos International Airport was named the best in its class (of handling 15 million passengers a year) in overall passenger satisfaction in 2002 by ΙΑΤΑ’s independent survey, Global Airport Monitor.
*Humour Department:
At one annual international travel and tourism show it was observed: “Business gatherings such as these demonstrate how many people a company can operate without. The same goes for tourism officials attending these shows.”
*Wisdom in one liners:
It is not whether you win or lose, but how you can manage to place the blame.
If at first you do not succeed, lower your standards.
If at first you do not succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a fool about it.
If at first you do not succeed, you will get a lot of advice.