Issue 4
15/07/2011
GREEK TRAVEL BUSINESS NEWS

Travel + Leisure 2011: Santorini Is # 1

American magazine Travel + Leisure readers have voted on the best islands in the world, placing Santorini at the forefront of island destinations in the world. For the 16th year, Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards ranks the top hotels, cruise lines, airlines, car-rental agencies, cities and islands, as voted by readers. Selection criteria for islands involve ratings on natural attractions, activities, sights, restaurants, food, people, and value. From the sixth position in the corresponding awards for 2010 list, Santorini moved up five places to top the list this year, leaving behind Bali (2nd), Nova Scotia (3rd), Philippines (4th), Australia (5th), Hawaii (7th), and the Galapagos Islands (10th).

CN Travellers Readers' Choice 2010: Mykonos Is Best European Island

Mykonos and the Cyclades archipelago were picked as top European island getaways by readers of leading US magazine Conde Nast Traveller for 2010. The Greek island received the Readers' Choice Award as Best European Island, over Turkey's Bozcaada and Spain's Ibiza, which ranked second and third respectively in the survey. Over 25,000 readers voted for the best hotels, cities, islands. The mayor of the municipality of Mykonos Athanasios Kousathana – Mega received the award at a special ceremony held at the General Secretariat of Tourism (July 11).

Positive Tourism Trend Continues

Tourist arrivals on the island of Rhodes and the other islands of the Dodecanese complex in the Aegean Sea are on the rise. According to recent data (July 4), tourist arrivals in June increased by 27% in comparison with the same month in 2010. Toping the list are Britons and Germans, followed by Italians, Swedes, Russians and Israelis.

The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises announced that international tourist arrivals in Greece rose by 9.52% in the first six months of 2011. On his part, Culture & Tourism Deputy Minister George Nikitiadis said (July 11) that government strategy was producing results and said that the domestic tourism product was not affected by the turbulence in Athens last month.

In absolute numbers, more than 4 million foreign tourists visited the country in the respective period, while in June only, tourist arrivals rose by 15%, compared to last year's figures.

Furthermore, a drop in local hotel prices as well as feeling of solidarity for their "Greek brethren" have seen the number of Balkan and Russian visitors to Greece surge since early June, with the most popular destinations being the coasts of northern regions including Halkidiki, Pieria, as well as the islands of Skiathos and Corfu. And, according to estimates, arrivals from former Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Union are expected to increase significantly over the next few months. Serbian visitors alone are coming in great numbers – approximately 700,000 arrivals, a rise of 200,000 compared to last year. By the number of visa applications processed by the Moscow Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office, it is estimated that more than 550,000 Russians will be choosing Greece for their summer holidays this year.

Interview: Yeroulanos Says Tourism Moving in "Right Direction"

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Yeroulanos discusses the potential impact of the debt crisis on tourism. He speaks from Athens with Maryam Nemazee on Bloomberg Television's "The Pulse." (July 8, video).

Russians Take Hippocratic Oath on Kos

Mr George Koletsos, General Secretary of GNTO, mr Wibi Soerjadi, famous Dutch pianist and ms Skarveli, Director of Greek National Tourism Organisation Belgium-Luxembourg-NetherlandsEighty Rostov State Medical University graduates made their wish a reality (early July) by taking the Hippocratic Oath on the Dodecanse island of Kos, the home of Hippocrates, the "father of medicine." "The Hippocratic Oath is a scared text for Russians; it expresses, in an extraordinary way, the ethos of classical medicine and ancient Greek thought," Rostov State Medical University Rector Aleksei Savisko. Dressed in an ancient Greek robes and with a crown of laurel leaves on his head, he recited the Hippocratic Oath in Russian, to be repeated by the soon-to-be doctors, who gathered at the archaeological site of the healing temple of Asklepeion.

US Airways in Code Share with Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines of Greece has signed a code-share agreement with US Airways Group Inc. Through the agreement, US Airways customers can travel to Athens and Thessolaniki, Greece, from on Aegean Airlines flights from London Heathrow, Rome and Munich, Germany. Customers can also visit the Greek Islands of Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Kos and Rhodes as well as Larnaca, Cyprus, through Aegean Airlines' hub in Athens. Aegean Airlines customers can fly nonstop to on US Airways' seasonal service from Athens, and they can connect at the airline's international gateways. The pact is subject to both U.S. Department of Transportation and Greek government approval.

Greece – A Holiday Paradise

Germany's television Morning Magazine ("Morgenmagazin" on channel ZDF) broadcast "Greece – A Holiday Paradise" ("Urlaubsparadies Griechenland") on July 1. The show is hosted by Antje Pieper - the channel's correspondent in Athens – who is seen walking in the Plaka area, and chats with tourists enjoying their sojourn. Though this area is only a short distance from recent turbulence in Athens, the correspondent notes that all these are facets of Greece. With more images of idyllic tourist resorts, as well as interviews with elated vacationers, the programme demonstrates why Greece attracts more and more tourists because of tempting offers and why it is indeed one of the most favourite destinations for German visitors.

Athens Will Soon Offer Free Wi-Fi Access on Public Buses

Free wireless internet access will soon be offered to commuters on public buses in Athens, Minister of Infrastructure Yiannis Ragoussis recently announced (July 4).

In the mean time, the KTEL Attikis company - public buses going between Athens and Thessaloniki - has announced the pilot operation of Wi-Fi Internet access on its intercity Athens - Thessaloniki - Athens route. The purpose of this move is to upgrade the quality of travel and to attract new customers to the public buses. It is noteworthy that the KTEL Kozani buses already offer broadband connections for passengers on these bus routes.

Beijing International Tourism Expo 2011

The Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) 2011 took place from June 17-19. The event attracted some 40,000 trade visitors and 100,000 public visitors. The Greek National Tourism Organisation office in Beijing was awarded the "Best Organized Booth," (by the BITE 2011 Organising Committee) and promoted Greece as a year-round destination (video). Greece offers opportunities for wedding tourism, wine roads, gastronomy, religious and agricultural tourism, and more.

Odysseus Elytis: Centenary Celebrations on Lesvos

A series of cultural events will be held at the end of July on Lesvos island to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nobel Literature Prize winning poet Odysseas Elytis (1911-1996). Elytis, born Odysseas Alepoudelis on November 2, 1911 in Heraklion, Crete, was regarded as a major exponent of poetic modernism in Greece, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979 for his "Axion Esti To mark the centenary anniversary, 2011 has been declared "Elytis Year" by Greece's Culture and Tourism Ministry. The events include the inauguration (July 29) of a thematic exhibition titled "Elytis' Lesvos" which will be on permanent display at the Vrana Olive Oil Press Museum - a rare architectural monument.

"Mansions & Millionaires" in Greece

A seven-member crew of TV newsmagazine Extra's "Mansions & Millionaires" - the series of popular hour-long weekend specials that takes viewers on a sneak peak of the extraordinary mansions, yachts, and hobbies of the rich and famous - was in Greece recently, filming the northern areas of Greece for one of the show's upcoming episodes. The show's host Michael Corbett focuses on expensive hotels, ritzy restaurants and places of cultural interest. The specific tribute to northern Greece will feature Greek stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Zach Galifianakis and Nia Vardalos. Shooting took place in luxury resorts of Halkidiki, in the historic centre and the castles of Thessaloniki as well as at the Royal Tombs in Vergina. The entire trip was organized by the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

Athens Every Week

The initiative Athens Every Week promotes everything that Athens has to offer to our visitors every week of the year. It organizes the numerous events that share the same theme and take place in Athens at the same time, thus creating a so-called "week-identity" in a unique ambience in the city. Currently running is Music Week (July 11-17) and next on the schedule is Open Air Week (July 18 - 24). For more information, please see www.visitgreece.gr.

IN BRIEF

  • Air Nostrum, Iberia's franchise company for regional flights, will be offering direct flights from Spain to Crete, Santorini and Corfu. From July 23 to September 3, the company will provide access to three of the most important tourist centres of Greece, in addition to the company's international operations.
  • An article titled "Santorini & Mykonos: The Pride of Greece" is available in Australia's online publication Travel Blackboard. "From the culinary flavours and brilliance to the beautiful islands blessed with endless stunning beaches and picturesque landscapes…".
  • The Swedish online travel magazine Vagabond has published (30.6) an extensive tribute to "Greece's Top 10 Islands" (Greklands 10 basta oar), grouping them according to certain criteria, such as "romantics", "families with children", "nature lovers", and more. The online magazine also offers an extensive guide to Greece (Reseguider Grekland).