Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-05-19

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek tourism to improve in 2005, minister says

[01] Greek tourism to improve in 2005, minister says

Speaking to reporters during a news conference, Avramopoulos said the ministry has already achieved a stabilisation of the tourism sector and said that the first results of a new tourism policy would be visible in 2006.

The Greek minister said that according to estimates by National Tourism Organisation's offices abroad, tourist arrivals would increase by an average 7.0 percent this year, with arrivals from the US expected to rise by 40 percent compared with 2004, followed by a 25-28 percent increase from Spain, 18 pct from Canada and 25 percent from Australia.

Charter flights are projected to increase by 40 percent this year, with sea cruises likely to double.

Avramopoulos also referred to increased passenger traffic numbers released recently by the Eletherios Venizelos international airport in Athens.

The Greek minister sent a warning to all businessmen related with the tourism sector, saying all enterprises breaking the law would close down, while he announced a round of strict inspections in tourist regions.

He said that National Tourism Organisation would increase its offices abroad to 49 from 23 currently and noted that the ministry has already spent 26 million euros for its advertising campaign.

The Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP) on Thursday said it expected tourist arrivals to rise by 5-6 percent this year compared with 2004.

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