Athens takes new steps to draw visitors amid debt crisis

Athens welcomes visitors with two Info-Points inaugurated this July as the Greek tourism industry is on a rebound this summer amidst the prolonged debt crisis.

The two new kiosks, one at the foot of the Acropolis hill and one at Piraeus port, are part of the City of Athens' strategy to present Athens as a dynamic modern metropolis with plenty to offer beyond historical monuments.

Tourists can receive travelling information through LCD screens, i-pads as well as traditional leaflets at the information centers, all free of charge.

"The traditional city guide gives you tips on exploring archaeological sites and Mediterranean cuisine, but lags in the updated in-depth info provided here regarding cultural events and excursions to nearby beaches and islands," a German visitor, Imogen Gruben told Xinhua.

Noting the Info-Points' strategic location, Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis said, "the key objective is to boost the city's economy through sustainable tourism development, efficient management and promotion of the Greek tourist product."

The first Info-Point was launched in Autumn 2008 at the Athens International Airport by the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company, with an aim to project a new image of Athens.

The tourism industry has traditionally been one of the strongest sectors of the Greek economy, accounting for approximately 18 percent of its GDP.

However, as Greece has been suffering from an acute debt crisis since late 2009 that has led the country to the brink of financial collapse, the Greek government hopes that the tourism industry would help kick start the ailing economy and show the way out of recession back to growth.

This summer so far has witnessed some positive signs. According to the estimations of federations of hoteliers and travel agencies, the number of arrivals to Greece this year would increase by at least 10 percent compared to 2010.

Due to the global financial crisis in recent years and a wave of strikes that occasionally turned into violent clashes in the center of Athens over the past year and a half, the Greek tourism sector reported significant losses in 2009 and 2010.

Athens witnessed tens of thousands cancellations of hotel stays and flights to Athens in just one week in early May last year, after employees of a bank near the parliament building died in riots during an anti-austerity demonstration.

Despite sporadic protests of Greek labor unions over reforms this summer, it seemed that tourists no longer turned their backs on the country.

"Out of solidarity to Greek peoples we have chosen to spend our summer holidays in Greece this year and support the Greek economy," said Gruben.

But there are also other factors behind the rebound of the Greek tourism industry, as Greek officials and analysts explained.
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A major reason is the favorable bargains on offer this year. Due to the crisis many tour operators and hotels have cut down on prices up to 30 percent compared to 2010, while the government has reduced ferry and flight fees.

Greek tourist destinations also regained its competitive edge as travelers now made a point to avoid northern Africa and Arab countries due to the political instability, seeking other Mediterranean resorts.

With an eye on double digit increases in the numbers of visitors, Greece has targeted emerging economies with measures such as easing visa restrictions for Chinese and Russian nationals, among others.

Despite the current challenge after all, Greece still offers a beautiful landscape, idyllic destinations at the Aegean islands, a rich history and culture and the warm hospitality of people.

It is no coincidence that last year Greece was the fourth most popular tourist destination across the EU, following Spain, Italy and France, according to a Eurobarometer poll on behalf of the European Commission.

Source: China Daily [September 15, 2011]