Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-08-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tourism sector performing well, Tourism Minister says

[02] Cyprus' Papadopoulos on working visit to Athens on August 18 ahead of EU's decision regarding Turkey's negotiating framework

[03] Olympic Airlines announces fuel surcharge on its fares

[01] Tourism sector performing well, Tourism Minister says

The positive results, according to Avramopoulos, are due to the comprehensive strategy and planning adopted and executed, while preparations for next year are already under way.

According to the ministry and based on information gathered from international and independent authorities, tourist arrivals to Greece in 2005 are expected to rise by more than 10% in comparison with 2004.

Avramopoulos says that this is the result of prompt preparations and a targeted advertising campaign.

The ministry is planning on launching the advertising campaign for 2006 early in order to continue improving performance.

However, he did emphasise that more needs to be done by way of radical changes aimed at upgrading the quality of Greek tourism and said that the ministry is cooperating with the private sector in this direction.

Finally, among the ministry's immediate priorities is draft legislation regarding spa/wellness tourism. The bill will most probably be tabled in Parliament in September.

[02] Cyprus' Papadopoulos on working visit to Athens on August 18 ahead of EU's decision regarding Turkey's negotiating framework

The Cypriot President is visiting Greece following recent developments surrounding the Cyprus issue and ahead of the European Council meeting scheduled for August 25 when the European Union will respond to Turkey's refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus although it signed the protocol extending its customs union to the 10, new EU members including Cyprus on July 29.

Papadopoulos will meet with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis at 12:30 p.m. A working lunch will follow.

[03] Olympic Airlines announces fuel surcharge on its fares

International oil prices surged to new all-time highs on Thursday, surpassing 65 US dollars per barrel.

Olympic Airlines said, starting Monday 22 August, its domestic flights' fare would be six euros higher, excluding flights to remote Greek islands, while, starting Tuesday 16 August, all intercontinental flights (New York, Montreal, Toronto, Johannesburg) will be 8 euros more expensive per trip.

The Greek national carrier, in an announcement, noted that it did not put a fuel surcharge on its domestic fares for almost a year.

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