2010 August - Greece Travel

A new report shows that Greece Tourism has managed to match the numbers of tourist arrivals at this time last year. Greece Tourism has started recovery at the peak of its tourism season. However a report from Bank of Greece shows that tourist arrivals has dropped by 15.7 % for this year comparing to 2009 which also dropped by 10%. Violence Protests in Athens followed by strikes has tarnished the image of Greece as a tourist destination. However in last few weeks, tourists have regain some confidence in Greece. There’s been no strikes or protests in Greece since the Truck strike which ended in July. As Greece shows the signs of getting back to normal, tourists also have started to regain confidence in Greece. Some Hotels have said that occupancy rate is better but still less that what it should be this time of the year. But they are hopeful that tourists number will increase if things remain normal in Greece. Tourists arrival has improved but not enough for hotels to make profits after disastrous start of tourist season but they hope to minimize their losses. Experts believe that its too early to say that Greece Tourism has recovered but its a good sign to see that tourist arrivals have matched last year’s number, even though its for a little period. If Greece remains strikes and protests free, tourists arrival will increase in Greece and it could pass the numbers from last year.


The exhibition “You in Greece” in the Library of Shanghai launched last Friday the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Paul Geroulanos. Earlier he met with the Deputy Director of the Library of the City Mr. He Yi, who announced the donation of 137 books that will provide first Greek part of the Library of Shanghai which is the second largest in China. Then launched the report and gave speeches referring to the common elements between Greece and China and strengthening the prospects of Chinese tourist in Greece.  On his part, Mr. He Yi reported in due respect for the Chinese to Greek history and civilization, and specifically mentioned the new face of modern Athens, as it emerged after the Olympic Games. He stressed that through the exhibition “You in Greece” guests of the Library will have the opportunity to experience even better than Greece. We aim to increase the number of Chinese visitors to Greece in the coming years.  For this purpose, process facilitation practices in granting the visa, while preparing to offer facilities and services geared to the needs of Chinese traveling public. We started targeted “familiarization trips” in Greece, inviting Chinese and large tour operators to highlight sights and attractive destinations for Chinese visitors.

In the date of 1st September Wednesday there will be ban on smoking in all indoor public areas throughout Greece. The ban applies equally to work places and recreational venues, without the option of a special smoking area, except in the case of casinos and recreational venues larger than 300 square metres playing live music.  Under the new law, private individuals that flout the smoking ban face fines ranging from 50-500 euros, while companies found to be tolerating smoking on their premises can be fined between 500 and 10,000€. Restaurateurs and club owners objecting to the timing that they said will be a further knock to a sector already struggling to cope with a decline in turnover of as much as 25%. Responsibility for enforcing the smoking ban has been given to the coast guard, municipal police and the police force, as well as prefecture and municipality social services.

The 108 sail boats participating in the “Aegean Regatta” started their race on Monday from the island of Thassos in the northern Aegean. The Aegean Regatta is being held for the 10th consecutive year by the general secretariat of the Aegean and islands’ policy, and transport ministry. Among the participants are crews from Cyprus , Russia , England , Italy and Bulgaria . The race will be concluded on Saturday on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos 

Continental Airlines and Aegean Airlines declared that they will start operating codeshare flights.  Continental will place its CO code on selected Aegean Airlines operated flights  between Athens and six holiday destinations in Greece; Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Mykonos,  Santorini and Chania, as well as flights to and from Athens and Larnaca, Cyprus.  Aegean Airlines will  place its A3 code on Continental’s flights between New York and Athens. In the future Continental will also codeshare on Aegean flights between Athens and London’s Heathrow  Airport and Munich and Frankfurt, Germany. Additionally subject to government approval, Continental will codeshare on Aegean flights between Athens and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport and Rome .  Aegean will codeshare on Continental flights from New York to Paris and Rome airports.

Greek Tourism Authorities will offer maximum of 100 Euros for tourists stranded due to strikes. Greek Culture Ministry has tabled a bill in Parliament which offers 50 Euros per tourist for maximum of  two days. Compensation will be given to foreign tourists who manage to prove that he was unable to take scheduled transport to leave Greece due to strikes or natural disaster. The proposed law also covers natural disasters but makes no mention of trips to internal destinations  such as Greece’s popular holiday islands which are also routinely disrupted by strikes. The ministry could not specify Wednesday when the bill would be put to a vote. New legislation can take weeks to be approved by parliament but the proposed measure is retroactive to  It covers the three-month period to September 30.


About 3,000 years after Ulysses returned from his journey, two archaelogists from Ioannina, who have  been  realizing excavations in the area of Agios Athanasios, on Ithaca island for 16 years,  say that there is serious evidence proving that they discovered the royal residence of Ulysses. As Thanassis  Papadopoulos, professor – archaelogist in Ioannina University, underlined, they have discovered the remains of a three-storey building like the ones that have been discovered in Mycenae, Pylos and  Tirintha. Furthermore, as Mr. Papadopoulos states, they have discovered as well a spring dated back to the 13th century BC , when Ulysses is believed to have lived.

Two Greek military F-16 jet fighters collided with each other in mid-air off the southwestern coast of  Crete island in southern Greece on Thursday noon, according to the Defense Ministry. There were three crew members on board the two F-16s which had taken off from a military base in Crete.  One of the pilots managed to use the emergency eject system and was found by a Greek ship. The other two pilots were saved and have been transferred to the Ierapetra Hospital. One of them is to undergo a surgery.


Kalamata is well-known as the township of olive trees, and as the entryway to Mani. The airport, railway station, main sea port, and bus station make it a transport hub and gateway to all the neighboring area, and a excellent section of the southern Peleponese. It has ship service frequently in the summer to Crete. It is probable to get transportation everywhere in the locale, and regularly commercial hoc tours to places off the most important tourist routes. There is nowhere in the southern Peleponese that has more transportation selections. It has hotels ranging from hovels in more uncertain parts of town, to four star hotels by the seaside. It is a immense jumping off position for the rest of the southern Peleponnesos and for the Messinian inlet in exacting. Kalamata olives are featured in advanced restaurants roughly the world, but it has other cooking distinctions. The area to the south has different honeys that have been praised by travelers back to the French Morea expeditions of the 1700’s. Honey from the region is held in high regard even today. Honey was used in Roman times for healing of hysteria and other complaints and in the area today it has some reputation for ornamental romance.



I’m in the last part of a seven days holiday of Mykonos with my wife. Among my experience, I can’t help to you too much but I just spend some time chatting concerning the island. Beginning with the gem apparent blue water, lively, welcoming and friendly nightlife, superb day time shopping, and the prehistoric ruins of the bordering island of Delos, I should suggest to you going Mykonos once in your lifetime. You will love Ancient Island of Delos, built up by the Ancient Greek people and amazingly well preserved. You will love delicious Greek foods. You will love enjoyable night life. What else do you want from a holiday?



Paros is an island of Greece in the central Aegean Sea. Paros Island lies just roughly 185 km south-east of the Piraeus. Paros is one of the most well-liked European tourist hotspots. Its nearest neighbor is the Community of Antiparos, lying to its southwest. Paros also became known for its well white marble which gave rise to the term Parian which is used for China and fine marbles worldwide. Paros is the windsurfer’s paradise. Paros is the island of traditional villages with white washed cubic houses and golden sandy secluded beaches with crystal clear blue water..