Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Bank of Greece forecasts 2005 rebound in tourism

[02] Gov't: Bank sector pension reform, store hours next initiatives on table

[01] National Bank of Greece forecasts 2005 rebound in tourism

Fuelling the rebound would be a new advertising campaign the government has launched, and the legacy from the Athens 2004 Olympics, which is estimated to bring 1.4 million extra tourists, offsetting lower competitiveness of the Greek tourism product in terms of prices.

Tourism's impact to growth of domestic economic activity will be about 0.9% in 2005, up from 0.5% in 2004, the report said.

At the same time, downward pressure is expected on hotel prices, which means that hoteliers' revenue will show a lower rate of increase than tourist arrivals.

"In order to keep an upward momentum in Greek tourism, an improvement in competitiveness is needed in terms of prices, with a deterioration in the current phase offsetting to some extent an upgrade in infrastructure and publicity," the report said.

Tourism contributes 16% of the country's gross domestic product and 18% of employment. Greece ranks 15th globally in terms of tourism arrivals, which totalled 13 million in 2004, 90% of which came from European countries, National said.

[02] Gov't: Bank sector pension reform, store hours next initiatives on table

Government spokesman and Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos also pointed directly to the most recent opinion polls, reminding that up to 70 percent of respondents in those polls favored structural reforms at the major state-run enterprises and utilities.

Roussopoulos, in fact, pointed to a poll published in an Athens daily showing that 55 percent of main opposition PASOK-affiliated union officials at OTE agree with the reforms promoted by the government and management at the Athens bourse-listed company.

Speaking during his regular press briefing, the government spokesman said the framework for reforms in the wider public sector was prominently featured in ruling New Democracy party's pre-election platform and also enunciated on several occasions by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis when the latter was main opposition leader.

Asked about debt-ridden Olympic Airways and the course of an ongoing tender to sell-off the national carrier, Roussopoulos said the relevant minister will make an announcement when any new developments transpire

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